39 pages • 1 hour read
AeschylusSeven Against Thebes
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 467A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus follows the conflict between brothers Eteocles and Polynices over the throne of Thebes after their father Oedipus's death. The city is besieged by seven enemy champions, and Eteocles organizes the defense, choosing warriors for each city gate. The climactic battle at the seventh gate pits the brothers against each other, resulting in their mutual death and fulfilling Oedipus's curse, thus ending in tragedy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus is praised for its exploration of fate, family, and conflict, showcasing powerful language and emotional intensity. Critics highlight its strong thematic depth and dramatic tension. Negative insights point to a perceived lack of character development and occasional melodrama. Overall, it remains a compelling, though not flawless, classic of Greek tragedy.
Who Should Read Seven Against Thebes?
A reader who enjoys Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus likely appreciates classic Greek tragedies, complex family dynamics, and themes of fate and destiny. Fans of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Euripides' The Bacchae would find similar appeal in this work.