read the excerpt from the royal house of thebes. there were seven champions to attack the seven gates of…

read the excerpt from the royal house of thebes. there were seven champions to attack the seven gates of thebes, and seven others within as bold to defend them. eteocles defended the gate which polyneices attacked, and antigone and ismene within the palace waited to hear which had killed the other. but before any decisive combat had taken place, a youth in thebes not yet grown to manhood had died for his country and in his death had shown himself the noblest of all. this was creons younger son, menoeceus. how does the archetype presented in the excerpt support the universal theme of loyalty to ones country? antigone and ismene act cowardly by hiding inside the castle, but it proves their loyalty. the warrior polyneices attacks eteocles, which proves he is loyal to his country. eteocles defends thebes against his own brother, proving his loyalty. creon kills his son, which shows that he demands loyalty.
Answer
Brief Explanations:
Eteocles defending Thebes against his brother shows loyalty as he prioritizes his country over family - kinship. Antigone and Ismene hiding is not an act of loyalty. Polynices attacking is dis - loyalty. Creon killing his son is about his extreme demand for loyalty, not a direct example of loyalty to country in the same sense as Eteocles' act.
Answer:
Eteocles defends Thebes against his own brother, proving his loyalty.