How Does Oedipus Treat Family In The Seven Against Thebes

In the play, The Seven Against Thebes, the sons of Oedipus teach a valuable lesson of how to treat family. While family is a very important aspect of Greco-Roman culture, this family seems to be extremely divided. The brothers are forced to split the ruling of the kingdom of Thebes, and at the seventh gate, the sons of Oedipus battle each other which leads to the death of the two brothers at the hands of the other. In the play, The Seven Against Thebes written by Aeschylus, the reader can find a didactic theme of avoiding prolonged feuds in ordered to avoid family division but ultimately falling at the hands of a cursed fate. The brothers disrespected their father, a major issue within Greco-Roman culture, which lead to their cursed fate. From the text book, “The curses were that they should divide the kingdom of Thebes, that there should “always be war and battle between them,” and that they should kill each other” (Morford, 431). Following the timeline of the curse, Polynieces surrounds his brother’s kingdom for battle; a classic brother-against-brother scenario. The Spy announces, “Eteocles, high
Antigone argues, “And I- to those who make such claims of rule in Cadmus’ town- I though no other help, I, I will bury this my brother’s corse and risk your wrath and what may come of it!” (Aeschylus, 31). Antigone believes that family is family, no matter the hardships that come along with being siblings. She loves both her brothers and wishes to see their souls make their way to the underworld. So, in refusal to allow others to dictate how she respects the death of her brothers, she preserves their family name by bury Polynieces and Eteocles. Family to Antigone is very important and she refuses to let her brother’s issues divide her love for her