Dramatic themes such as revenge, deceit, jealousy, suffering, guilt, and forgiveness are central to Aeschylus' work. Many of his plays include instances in which the gods punish mankind for attempting to be godlike. These themes were popularized in Aeschylus' tragedies, and have been common ever since.

His seven known plays are divided into one complete trilogy and four additional works. "The Suppliant Women" is the only surviving part of the lost Danaüs trilogy. "The Persians" (472 B.C.) is his next known work, and concerns the wars between Greece and Persia. "The Seven Against Thebes" (467 B.C.) is the last part of his lost trilogy dealing with the life of Oedipus. Aeschylus traveled to Sicily several times during his life, and on his last voyage he did not return.

He died at Gela, Sicily, in 456 B.C. A monument commemorating the "father of Greek tragedy" was erected at the site of his death.