Sophocles' Ajax is one of the most disturbing and powerful surviving ancient tragedies. But it is also difficult to understand and interpret. What are we to make of its protagonist's extremism? Does Ajax deserve the isolation and divine punishment he experiences? Why is his state of mind so difficult to determine?

Jon Hesk offers answers to these and many other questions by drawing together the very latest critical work on the play, and introduces the reader to key frames for its interpretation, including Sophoclean heroism, language and form, Homeric intertextuality, Athens''masculinist' culture and the post-classical, contemporary reception of Ajax.