This is represented by Sophocles by a sequence of repeated syllables; "a,a,a,a,a or pheu, pheu"7. Heaney creates his own version: "oh ahhhhhhh8" and even refers to himself as being like an animal, "I know I look like a wild animal, don't let me scare you9". Philoctetes octetes is like a man from whom all culture has been stripped away, as he is unable to be attentive at sacrifices, because his screams break the ritual silence, and the disgusting smell from his wound spoils the feast. He is seen as being de-cultured and has lost those suspect refinements we see in a thoroughly over cultured, cunning man of persuasion like Odysseus. Yet by saying this, Philoctetes underlines his humanity and his language describing his sufferings and memory of being abandoned alongside his love of Neoptolemus. Philoctetes does this by describing Neoptolemus in loving and civilised modes of address (son, child, friend). "Life is shaky. Never, son, forget10", this shows Philoctetes concern for the welfare of Neoptolemus and his langue can be seen to be both be eloquent and poetic. .
Odysseus, by contrast, even though he is civilised, and is not the one struggling with survival on the island, can still be seen as a savage with his words. Odysseus is a sophist, twisting the truth, employing persuasive deceit. Odysseus begins the play with a summary of what happened the last time that he was on Lemnos. This tactic is referred to as the historical approach, where a speaker simply restates the facts of a case. Odysseus' narration comprises of why they abandoned Philocetetes on the island, before cutting his speech short with the comment, "only because I was ordered to11": he is skilfully rationalising his guilt. As the play progresses, there is corruption and failure of language because Odysseus argues it is prudent, even virtuous to lie; word and reality become disjoined; language undergoes a slippage.