This play is written from the perspective of the Persians, but Aeschylus was, of course Greek. Since the story that unfolds describes the defeat of the Persians by the Greeks, one might wonder about its objectivity.
However, the basic theme is that of pride. Xerxes, son of Atossa and Darius (who is deceased and appears in the play as a ghost) is not satisfied to rule Persia. He wants to expand his boundaries, and so, he attacks Athens. When word of the slaughter of his army reaches Queen Mother Atossa and the Persian Ministers of State, great sorrow is expressed and the consensus is reached that pride was his downfall. “…proud thoughts are not for the worm called man.” When man is guilty of such, he will find God willing to help him along to his demise. “…when man, shod with haste and girt with pride, beckons his own doom, God is on his side.”
The desire for material possessions is also critiqued. “Possessions must not be revered save as men use them; yet they that have none, how poor! To them what luster hath the sun?” Apparently this is an age-old problem. Abundance does not buy ones happiness, but poverty is certainly not pleasant either. The you-can’t-take-it-with-you notion appears as: “Where dead men lie, wealth nothing profiteth.”
The play ends with Xerxes and the chorus of ministers of state exchanging laments…many, many laments. I can picture the Greek audience rising to their feet in applause as Xerxes exits inconsolable and in utter defeat.
What was Aeschylus’ objective? Did he just want to puff up the Greeks regarding their victory? Or, did he hope that using the Persians as an example would cause the Greeks to examine their own tendency toward pride?
It is always easier to see pride in another than in oneself. Pride has a way of infiltrating the mind and sneaking up on us. It muddies up our objectives and priorities. Thank you Aeschylus for the reminder.
