Sophocles is explaining the rebellion that purely got here about. The brothers Eteocles and Polyneices have been locked in wrestle; Polyneices became scuffling with to take the throne from his uncle, Creon, to ascend to his father's, Oedipus's, throne. Eteocles fought for his uncle and against his brother, yet the two have been killed in wrestle. Eteocles is to settle for the burial of a hero, with all honors, because of the fact he defended Creon, yet Polyneices is purely meant to be left there on the battlefield, as a warning for everyone else who tries to rebellion against Creon and Thebes. the undeniable fact that Polyneices is to no longer get carry of a ideal burial is a significant plot ingredient.