Character Analysis
Oedipus’ eldest son, Antigone’s and Ismene’s brother, Polyneices is not so neice after all (sorry, we had to). He’s the clown who actually decided to run his dad, Oedipus, out of town after the whole Oedipal complex comes crashing down, and then he betrays Thebes by going out and joining a whole different city’s army.
He explains it’s no big deal:
For when I went to Dorian Argos,
I took Adrastus as my father-in-law and swore
To my side as many men of the Apian land
As were called preeminent and honored for their spear,
So that I might gather against Thebes a sevenfold band of spearmen:
With these I would either die with all of justice on my side
Or cast out those who did these things from the land. (1301-07)
So he’s back, with backup this time.
The problem is that Polyneices isn’t really motivated by justice and honor like he claims; he actually just can’t stand it that his little brother has shown him up. When Antigone begs him not to go fight he asks her:
For how could I lead the same army
Back again once I have run away in fear? (1418-19)
He’s motivated by how he looks, by his reputation, not by truth and justice.