King Pittheus Character Analysis

To be a legendary king, one must accrue a prodigious amount of honor and glory so that he may be remembered for generations. Theseus’ grandfather, King Pittheus, is speaking to a child Theseus. He is explaining to him the importance of the quality of a king—that he will live a short and honorable life, rather than a long unimportant one: “When it came time to choose among the Royal Kin, this was his sign: that he chose short life with glory, and to walk with the god, rather than live long, unknown like the stall-fed ox” (16-17). King Pittheus is relating this to how the King Horse is sacrificed after he has lived a life full of honor that he fought for and earned and become a sacrifice for all of the people of Troizen; however, he will …show more content…
Theseus is wrestling with his thoughts one night in the bull-court when he ponders, “I know I thought of many things: of death, and fate, and what the gods want of man; how far a man can move within his moira, or, if all is determined, what makes one strive; and whether one can be a king without a kingdom” (222). Theseus is not quite certain whether moira is predetermined or whether it can be changed. Nonetheless, Theseus is convinced that one can be a king without a kingdom by living by standards he sets for himself, by obeying the gods, by respecting the gods, and by gaining honor. Theseus is speaking with his beloved Ariadne. They are discussing what is happing in he kingdom and how Asterion is slowly taking everything over and Mino’s power is slipping away. Theseus remarks, “Then, the god will never speak to him. How can he lead the people? Who will see their danger coming? What will happen, if the god is angry, and there is no one to offer himself? He takes service, tribute, honor; and he gives nothing! Nothing! I knew that he was monstrous! He will be death to your people, if they let him live” (253). Asterion has been gaining power, making “sacrifices” to gods through purchasing the Theseus’ Cranes for the bull-court, and taking honor. All of these are done purely in the greedy pursuit of power, none of them done with a true heart with respect for the gods. And above all these things, neither Poseidon nor any other gods speak to Asterion like they do Theseus. This passage is explaining that Asterion is not fit to be king like Theseus is and will only bring about the destruction of the kingdom if he rules. He does not respect the gods or take his faith seriously, unlike Theseus, and thus is not fit to be king of anything. Once again, Theseus is in the bull-court contemplating things and