How does Aeschylus contrast his presentation of the Persians and the Greeks?

In The Persians, Aeschylus' presentation of the Persians contrasts against his presentation of the Greeks. One of the primary differences between Persians and Greeks is the depiction of the notion of freedom. The Greek word for freedom - eleutheria - is the opposite of the word for slavery, and connotes freedom from rule by other people. The Hellenic forces are ordered to "set your country free" in a battle cry that rallies them in defence of Hellenic and Attic states, gods and families. It is worth noting that tragedy was a dramatic form closely linked to the development of democracy within Athens, and the staging of The Persians near the site that the Persians destroyed only a few years prior emphasises the relationship between Persian rule and an attack on democratic freedom.Furthermore, Aeschylus presents a dichotomy between the masculine Greeks and feminine Persians. The authority of the female Atossa, the feminine, emotional lamentation of Xerxes, and the effeminate luxuriousness of the Persians (Atossa's reference to the "gold furnished chamber" and her "vast wealth" being an example) contributes to their othering, and the conflict between East and West emphasises this gendered divide. Whilst the Persians embody excess in relation to tyrannical rule, the Greeks embody civic loyalty, and their superior battle strategy enhances their masculinity. Aeschylus even likely used oriental costumes to other the Persians in contrast to the Greeks.

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Answered by Emma B. Classical Civilisation tutor

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