
Contents
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Heroism Heroism
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Suffering Suffering
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More than Suffering: Heroism in the Middle More than Suffering: Heroism in the Middle
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Conclusion Conclusion
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Works Cited Works Cited
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6 Heroism in the Middle in Sophocles’ Philoctetes
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Published:June 2024
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Abstract
The Sophoclean Philoctetes articulates a unique and personal type of heroism. Abandoned for years on an island, he suffers isolation and sickness, with no possibility of heroic action. Yet he construes his endurance in active terms: his survival is a heroic achievement, surpassing the deeds of the Greek generals at Troy. This essay uses the category of the Greek ‘middle voice’ to articulate Philoctetes’ unique understanding of his heroism. Despite his enormous sufferings and inhibited actions, Philoctetes is not simply a sufferer. In enduring what he has endured, Philoctetes achieves a form of excellence. This excellence through endurance is something in between doing and experiencing; we could call it ‘heroism in the middle.’
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