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| Character | Eteocles | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Persuasive, Inspirational | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama, War | |
| Description | Eteocles urges every man in the city to fight | |
| Location | Scene I | |
Summary
Seven against Thebes is about the war between two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, sons of King Oedipus of Thebes. After their father's death they had agreed to rule Thebes in alternate years but after the first year Eteocles refuses to leave its rule to his brother. In retaliation, Polynices gathers an army led by seven captains to attack and conquer Thebes.
This monologue is right at the beginning of the play. Eteocles calls forth and urges every man in Thebes to fight against his brother's army.
This monologue is right at the beginning of the play. Eteocles calls forth and urges every man in Thebes to fight against his brother's army.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| ETEOCLES Clansmen of Cadmus, at the signal given By time and season must the ruler speak Who sets the course and steers the ship of State With hand upon the tiller, and with eye Watchful against the treachery of sleep. For if all go aright, thank Heaven, men say, But if adversely-which may God forefend!- One name on many lips, from street to street, Would bear the bruit and rumour of the time, Down witk Eteocles!-a clamorous curse, A dirge of ruin. May averting Zeus Make good his title here, in Cadmus' hold! You it beseems now-boys unripened yet To lusty manhood, men gone past the prime And increase of the full begetting seed, And those whom youth and manhood well combined Array for action-all to rise in aid Of city, shrines, and altars of all powers Who guard our land; that ne'er, to end of time, Be blotted out the sacred service due To our sweet mother-land and to her brood. For she it was who to their guest-right called Your waxing youth, was patient of the toil, And cherished you on the land's gracious lap, Alike to plant the hearth and bear the shield In loyal service, for an hour like this. Mark now! until to-day, luck rules our scale; For we, though long beleaguered, in the main Have with our sallies struck the foemen hard. But now the seer, the feeder of the birds (Whose art unerring and prophetic skill Of ear and mind divines their utterance Without the lore of fire interpreted) Foretelleth, by the mastery of his art, That now an onset of Achaea's host Is by a council of the night designed To fall in double strength upon our walls. Up and away, then, to the battlements, The gates, the bulwarks! don your panoplies, Array you at the breast-work, take your stand On the floorings of the towers, and with good heart Stand firm for sudden sallies at the gates, Nor hold too heinous a respect for hordes Sent on you from afar: some god will guard! I too, for shrewd espial of their camp, Have sent forth scouts, and confidence is mine They will not fail nor tremble at their task, And, with their news, I fear no foeman's guile. |
