The plot of the Persians begins to unfold from a time point after the crushing defeat of the Persian forces at Salamis. In no case is there an attempt to record the historical events in detail and accurately. The priority is only to give a version of historical truth, as dictated by the theatrical genre, and to highlight the timeless essence of things.
Within a dramatic atmosphere, the cause of evil must be made clear and the cycle of its disastrous consequences must be closed. Xerxes, a disrespectful strategist and carrier of hubris, is tragically guilty, as he recklessly sacrifices the "flower of the country" to his personal vanity and incurs the punishment of the avenger Zeus.
"When arrogance blooms, the ear of destruction bears fruit, and only tears remain for you to reap," emphasizes the ghost of the deceased Darius. However, beyond the abuse of power and disrespect, the arrogance in Xerxes' behavior constitutes the negligent estimation of the power of a world with a superior form of political organization, democracy.