Celine Thomerson Human Situation Dr. Price
Gender Roles in Seven Against Thebes
The gender roles play an important part in Seven Against Thebes and the differences in our cultures from Greek culture. The gender roles differ greatly from today’s standards. To better understand Aeschylus’ play, differences in ways of thinking must be taken into account.
The chorus starts out lamenting, near hysterical, and disordered. After Eteokles accused them of hindering, more than helping their cause. Eteokles tells the chorus of women to not lament on the tragedy they might suffer, to ignore the fact that the city could be sacked could lose, and to ignore the fact that they have very little effect on the eventual outcome of the fight. Eteokles wants them to take male characteristics, to cheer the troops on, like modern-day cheerleaders. He claims they are doing more damage than good by whining to the gods about how horrible their lives would be if Thebes were taken and how grateful they would be if it were not. This is insensitive of Eteokles he does not consider the women’s viewpoint and the effects on them if the city was ransacked. Also, how could praying to the powerful gods be harmful? Eteokles believes that although the gods have the supreme power, the men actually fight the battles so the women should be cheering them on, not appealing to the gods. Eteokles is wrong in his assumption. The gods hold the supreme power not the people. Like in chess, it is not the pawns, knights, or even kings that win or lose a game but the brain behind the strategy. The gods are the brains behind the madness. The gods decide the fate of humans.
