Part 2 Summary

Ajax' wife Tecmessa appears, telling the Chorus of Sailors that the rumors are true - the night before, Ajax did indeed go mad and slaughter a herd of cattle. The Chorus suggests it is time for the Chorus members to flee, lest the leaders of the Greek army decide they participated in the slaughter and want to punish them also. Tecmessa says Ajax is regaining his sanity. The Chorus doubts Tecmessa, but she assures them that Ajax is filled with remorse. Tecmessa tells how Ajax collapsed in the midst of the carnage he had wrought and lamented his actions. Tecmessa expresses her fear that Ajax may do something even more dreadful, and then Ajax cries out in agony calling for his son and his brother. Tecmessa shows Ajax the Chorus, whom Ajax greets and then asks them to kill him to put him...