Question

read the excerpt from \the royal house of thebes.\ neither the besiegers nor the besieged could gain any real advantage and finally both sides agreed to let the matter be decided by a combat between the brothers. if eteocles was the victor, the argive army would withdraw; if eteocles was conquered, polyneices should be king. neither was victor; they killed each other. eteocles dying looked upon his brother and wept; he had no strength to speak. polyneices could murmur a few words: \my brother, my enemy, but loved, always loved. bury me in my homeland—to have so much at least of my city.\ which actions best support the theme that lust for power is stronger than family ties? select two options. the brothers fight each other for the throne. both brothers die trying to gain power. eteocles weeps when he kills polyneices. polyneices wants to be buried in thebes. polyneices professes his love for eteocles.

Explanation:

To determine which actions support the theme that lust for power is stronger than family ties, we analyze each option:

• "The brothers fight each other for the throne": Fighting over the throne (power) instead of valuing their family bond shows power lust over family ties.
• "Both brothers die trying to gain power": Dying in the pursuit of power (the throne) rather than preserving their family relationship supports the theme.
• "Eteocles weeps when he kills Polyneices": Weeping shows he still values the family tie, so this does not support the theme.
• "Polyneices wants to be buried in Thebes": This is about his desire for burial in his homeland, not about power vs. family ties.
• "Polyneices professes his love for Eteocles": Professing love emphasizes family ties, not power lust over them.

Answer:

A. The brothers fight each other for the throne, B. Both brothers die trying to gain power