At the beginning of the play, the focus is on Lykos' attempt to execute Megora and her sons in order that they will not seek revenge on him as he has just killed Creon, Megora's father and King of Thebes. With the interplay of the Chorus of Old Men calling out to the audience asking them to stop this foreigner from taking over their lands the play reveals to us the desire for power and riches by a wicked man willing to do anything necessary to have it for himself.
The Old Men represent the fact that while their champion and hero, Heracles is away in Hades there is no one there to protect the city. The Old Men have the fire within them to oppose the injustice, but they no longer have the strength to defy Lykos. Euripedes is exploring the consequences of an army (represented in Heracles) being away from the home city, and how those who are capable of manipulating will do so when their is no great force to oppose them.
But, when Heracles returns he kill Lykos and puts and end to his terror upon his family and the city of Thebes. And, when it seems all is restored, the gods begin to play their devious games upon humanity. Iris arrives and causes Heracles to go mad and slaughter his sons and wife. He awakens to find them murdered by his own hands with no recollection of doing so. This action reveals the relationship of the gods and man, and how in the end, the gods will have the final say in who lives or dies, not a man, a king nor a hero. Euripedes also makes it clear that Zeus did not intercede. Megora and her sons found shelter in his temple at the beginning of the play, but he never shows to help them, nor does the king of the gods appear to intercede on behalf of his son, Heracles. We see the mystery of Zeus' fatherhood create the reality that he is not a true father, as he once again abandons his son to the fate of his induced actions - actions that Heracles must carry the consequences of in exile for the rest of his life.
