Seven Against Thebes is a Greek tragedy that follows the story of the conflict between two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, as they fight for control of the city of Thebes. The play is filled with themes of fate, family loyalty, and the consequences of pride.

Aeschylus does an excellent job of building tension throughout the play, culminating in a dramatic and tragic conclusion. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and flaws. The chorus adds depth to the story, providing commentary and insight into the events unfolding on stage.

The translation by Way captures the essence of the original Greek text, maintaining the poetic language and dramatic intensity of Aeschylus's work. The dialogue flows smoothly and is easy to follow, making the play accessible to modern readers.

Overall, Seven Against Thebes is a powerful and thought-provoking tragedy that explores timeless themes of power, pride, and the destructive nature of war. A must-read for anyone interested in Greek mythology or classical literature.

Book Description:
Seven against Thebes is the third play in an Oedipus-themed trilogy produced by Aeschylus in 467 BC. The trilogy is sometimes referred to as the Oedipodea. It concerns the battle between an Argive army led by Polynices and the army of Thebes led by Eteocles and his supporters. The trilogy won the first prize at the City Dionysia. The trilogy's first two plays, Laius and Oedipus, as well as the satyr play Sphinx, are no longer extant. When Oedipus, King of Thebes, realized he had married his own mother and had two sons and two daughters with her, he blinded himself and cursed his sons to divide their inheritance (the kingdom) by the sword. The two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, in order to avoid bloodshed, agreed to rule Thebes in alternate years. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down, leading Polynices to raise an army of Argives (captained by the eponymous Seven) to take Thebes by force....The bulk of the play consists of rich dialogues between the citizens of Thebes and their king Eteocles regarding the threat of the hostile army before their gates.