Philoctetes · Character

Odysseus

The Greek army's most cunning strategist, sent to pry a wounded hero and his sacred bow off a deserted island by force or fraud.

major

Also known as Odysseus Entangle Philoctetes, Odysseus To Neoptolemus, Odysseus Wretch, Odysseus Great Zeus, Odysseus Son of Achilles

First appearance: Dramatis Personae

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With Philoctetes (rivalry): Odysseus and Philoctetes are locked in a bitter struggle over the bow and the fate of Troy. With Sailor (professional): Odysseus commands the sailor as part of his crew, using him as a tool…

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Character Web

7 connections

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Relationship types

Rivalry
Professional
Psychological

Character groups

Protagonist
Moral conflict agents
Legacy and divine figures

+2 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point

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Relationships

Philoctetes
rivalry · negative
Sailor
professional · ambivalent
Neoptolemus
professional · ambivalent
Achilles
rivalry · negative
Zeus
psychological · ambivalent
Laertes
family · positive
Heracles
social · ambivalent
Philoctetes
rivalry · negative
Philoctetes
rivalry · negative
Sailor
professional · ambivalent
Sailor
professional · ambivalent
Zeus
psychological · ambivalent

Philoctetes
Odysseus and Philoctetes are locked in a bitter struggle over the bow and the fate of Troy.
Sailor
Odysseus commands the sailor as part of his crew, using him as a tool in his schemes.
Neoptolemus
Neoptolemus is initially Odysseus's subordinate and accomplice in the plot against Philoctetes.
Achilles
Achilles and Odysseus are legendary rivals in the Trojan War, with conflicting values of honor versus cunning.
Zeus
Odysseus invokes Zeus as a justification for his deceptive mission, using divine authority as a manipulative tool.
Laertes
Laertes is Odysseus's father, though their relationship is distant and referenced only in Odysseus's background.
Heracles
Heracles is a legendary hero whose bow is central to the plot, but he has no direct interaction with Odysseus in the play.
Philoctetes
Odysseus and Philoctetes are locked in a bitter struggle over the bow and the fate of Troy.
Philoctetes
Odysseus and Philoctetes are locked in a bitter struggle over the bow and the fate of Troy.
Sailor
Odysseus commands the sailor as part of his crew, using him as a tool in his schemes.
Sailor
Odysseus commands the sailor as part of his crew, using him as a tool in his schemes.
Zeus
Odysseus invokes Zeus as a justification for his deceptive mission, using divine authority as a manipulative tool.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Odysseus appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Odysseus in Dramatis Personae