The Plague Confession: Approach to Sophocles' Philoctetes

We propose a reading of the plague in the tragedy of Sophocles Philoctetes, based on the interpretive paradigms of Paul Ricoeur, which emphasizes the role of the mythical model in updating the symbols of origin and especially the presence of evil. We go through the notions associated with dirt as guilt and wound as expiation. From there we offer lines of reflection to think about the non-physical implications of the current pandemic; if the cosmic plane of events connects with an ethical plane, the relationship with present evil demands new community responses.