Ajax' "Trugrede" is no deception speech. It's a heroic/superhuman speech.

What is it about?

A new interpretation of Ajax' "deception speech" (vv. 646-692) in the tragedy by Sophocles. Contrary to most readings, the work does not focus its attention on guessing Ajax' intentions, but rather stresses the super-human quality of the hero's newly acquired language. From this perspective, the strange communicative situation depicted in the scene becomes much less unique. The reason why Ajax starts now to speak like a "demonic"/"heroic" figure is tied to the preparation of his death and his grave that would turn him into a hero of the Athenian cult.

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Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash

Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Whereas this passage has been the object of countless readings, this work is an utterly original interpretation that sheds lights on previously ignored linguistic features of the speech