A Sonʼs Love

It was in one midnight during the time of Ouraniaʼs summer that I, Polyneices, son of
King Oedipus of Thebes, was roused from my peaceful slumber by the soft yet
unsettling sound of tears hitting the surface of the palace floor. Upon waking, I
immediately looked out to the majestic city of Thebes from my balcony to see that a
nearby agora had been set on fire. The incident caused quite a commotion, but it was
none of my concern. After wearing my robes, I headed towards the courtyard, near the
throne of my father. As the night grew older, more surprises came about. Traces of
blood were splattered across the palace floor, ridding the marble of its original grandeur.
It was disgusting, and it carried the putrid stench of impure and sinful blood. The real
excitement only began there.

To my enjoyment, the blood spilled on that fateful night was that of my fatherʼs. Oedipus,
the once glorious savior and king of Thebes, is now a broken man trapped in his own
schemes, a victim of himself and no one else. Although I was not able to see my fatherʼs
battered body for myself, my dearest uncle, Creon, vividly described what had
transpired.

I felt no bit of remorse for my fatherʼs fate. But, it is only right that he suffers with
excruciating pain. How dare he leave nothing for me! That old coot deserves no mercy
from man nor god. He is the very reason why this family is impure. The blood the runs
through my veins is black all because of my fatherʼs doing.

My mother is no less the same. It is her actions which gave way to the fulfillment of the
prophecy. Now, she is in Hadesʼs Underworld reaping what she sowed. There is no
sweetness in the nether plane for her; she will suffer for her impurity and sins.

Alas, I myself am doomed to their curse, a burden that was not meant for me. Why does
fate punish me so. Life is cruel and meaningless. There is no goodness in this world.
Since the most prominent family in Thebes suffers, so shall the lesser citizens. My
fatherʼs legacy is in shambles. I will take it upon myself to rule this land. However, I will
not rebuild it. Thebes dies with me, and Cadmus will weep and lament for an eternity.
No one will stand it my way. If my brother, Eteocles, wishes to intervene, he shall join
my mother to rot with the sails of Charon.

- Polyneices