The main focus is on 2 opposing ideas and worlds: the desire for peace, freedom and equality in their beautiful land with proud citizens, against violence, enslavement and aggression.
The Slovaks sacrifice their lives for noble dreams and they are the moral winners; on the other hand, the Romans are ashamed as slaves are.
Chalupka chose a form of folklore literature, language and syllabic rhythm to emphasise the poem's spirit of democracy.
The author commented on his poem in the magazine Sokol (Falcon) in 1864: I can see the true reason for the emperor's malice in the Slovak's free mindfulness.
The poem was an impulse of patriotic enthusiasm from Chalupka's peers and the older generations (for example during the Slovak National Revival).