The Persians

Greek tragedies often involve a singular tragic hero whose fatal flaw, also known as hamartia, undoes them. Is there a tragic hero in The Persians? What is their fatal flaw?

Queen Atossa and the chorus summon the ghost of Darius in the second major episode of the play. Why do they do this? What is the significance of what Darius reveals to them?

Consider the use of the supernatural in the play. What are the similarities between Atossa dream, the omen of the birds, and Darius’s prophesies? What are their differences? Why does Aeschylus include so many different kinds of oracular signs in The Persians?

The Persians can be read as sympathetic to a people who were longtime enemies of Athens. Does the play have any veiled critiques of Greece? Why or why not?

Consider the roles of children and parents in The Persians. Could the play be read as a family drama rather than a historical narrative? Why or why not?

What is the role of the chorus in The Persians? Who are they, and how does their status affect their interactions with the other characters in the play? How does Aeschylus bridge the gap between the chorus functioning as a narrator and as characters?

Lists of great heroes and rulers are depicted by the chorus, the messenger, and Darius. What is the point of these lists? What do they mean for the Persians? For the Greek audience?

Much attention is given to Xerxes’ attire. Analyze the situations in which his torn robes and empty quiver are discussed. What do they symbolize? What does this mean for the fate of Persia?