Ajax, 3

A messenger comes with news. Teucer arrived at the Greek camp and was scolded and abused over the rumors of Ajax's crime. The messenger brings the instruction that Ajax is to be kept in his tent for the remainder of the day. The seer Calchas has said that his raving lunacy is due to the influence of Athena, and is only temporary. It is punishment for Ajax's overconfidence and pride, first expressed to his father when he initially left for battle, and recently boasted to Athena herself when Ajax shunned her help and declared his self-sufficient strength. The news throws the Chorus and Tecmessa into a panic, and they split up into search parties to locate Ajax before tragedy strikes.

Ajax, alone by the beach, prepares his sword in the ground so that he may fall on it.  He makes his final peace and pleas with the gods.  To Zeus: that Teucer might find his body first and protect it from desecration.  To Hermes, that the death may be swift.  To the Furies, that they may ensure a similar end to Agamemnon and Menelaus.  To Helios, that he may shine on his homeland and parents.  His final farewell is to his home country.  Ajax slays himself.

The search parties reunite, and it is Tecmess who finds the body.  Wailing.  The Chorus sees that Ajax had fooled them with his farewell talk before.  They speak of revenge against the enemies in the Greek army who drove Ajax to do this, with special anger toward Athena and her favoritism of Odysseus.  None appreciated Ajax while he lived.

Teucer arrives and vows to protect the body.  He summons for Ajax's son and vows protection for him, too.  He laments his own inability to forestall this-- and dreads returning home and living under the quiet anger that will surely come from his father, Telamon.  He recognizes a singular irony: the great enemy warriors Hector and Ajax exchanged weapons and armor under friendly terms.  Hector was then done in when he was dragged from a chariot by Ajax's girdle; Ajax killed himself on Hector's sword.  There must be a plan of the gods guiding all these events.

The Chorus and Teucer hear an approach and swiftly hide the body.  Menelaus arrives.