“To look on self-wrought woes, when no other hath had a hand therein—this lays sharp pangs to the soul.”
~ ‘Ajax’ by Sophocles (Richard. C. Jebb translation. p145)
The play opens in front of Ajax’s tent, where Ulysses is seen investigating the slaughter of Greek cattle. He suspects Ajax. He hears Athena, who compliments him and tells him that what he suspects is true. She says Ajax had set out to kill the chiefs, but Athena caused him to hallucinate, and he killed the cattle, thinking that they were Greek leaders.
A chorus of Ajax’s sailor friends wonders who has been creating rumour that Ajax slaughtered cattle, and they suspect Ulysses. Tecmessa, Ajax’s concubine, says it is not a rumor, but Ajax had indeed killed the animals, saying he was driven mad by the gods. Ajax regains his sanity and is horrified by what he has done. Tecmessa and the Chorus try to pacify him. He appears pacified and tells them he is going to the seashore to purify himself. But when he is there, he falls on his sword that Hector had gifted him and commits suicide.