Final answer:
Polynices was driven into exile due to a power struggle with his brother Eteocles, who refused to share the rule of Thebes, similar to how Socrates was offered exile instead of the death penalty during his trial to avoid being labeled a criminal and compromising his mission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reason for Polynices' Exile in 'Thebes'
In the context of Greek literature, Polynices was driven into exile instead of being given his turn to rule in Thebes due to the dynamics of power and the concept of justice and punishment at the time. Polynices was the son of Oedipus, the former King of Thebes, who, after realizing that he had fulfilled a dreadful prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother, blinded himself and went into exile.
Polynices and his brother Eteocles were to alternate the throne of Thebes, but due to the manipulations and the refusal by Eteocles to relinquish power, Polynices was forced into exile. This exile, much like Socrates's potential exile during his trial, was seen as a consequence of the pursuit of justice and adherence to the oaths taken before the gods, as well as the social and political norms of the time.
Socrates himself faced exile as a potential alternative to the death penalty in his trial. However, had he chosen exile, he would be viewed as a criminal and his philosophical mission would be compromised, as other cities might not tolerate his method of questioning. In exile, he wouldn't be able to continue his search for wisdom and would likely find it hard to engage with others as he did in Athens. Therefore, much like Polynices, who was driven into exile during a power struggle, Socrates faced exile as a possible outcome of his trial.
Furthermore, the Greek understanding of exile and punishment was that exile was not necessarily a punishment in itself but rather a refuge from punishment. This idea is explored by Cicero and Polybius, who highlight that exile could be voluntary and preferential to facing harsher penalties at home. Thus, while Polynices' exile was a result of fraternal power dynamics, it also played into the broader Greek concept of exile as a form of avoiding more severe consequences and maintaining one's honor or mission, as was the case with Socrates.