Plato
At the end of the Peloponnesian War Pericles, an elder states man and builder of the democracy in Athens, at the ceremony to honor those who had fallen, gave a moving speech to remind all of Athens why these men gave their lives. In the course of this infamous speech he begins to discuss what it is that separates Athens from others. Pericles truly believes that Athens is a model to other cities if the time, and a city that he is proud of. However, he is faced with the great challenge of conveying this message to a city mourning people. Only his great skill at rhetoric could create such a positive tone to such a negative occasion. Further, It was this skill that helped pave the way for historical figures throughout time to reach into the hearts of their respective publics (namely, Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address). Parallels of Athenian culture in Pericles's speech can also be seen in works of the great playwright Sophocles. In this paper I will compare both the Gettysburg Address and Sophocles's plays Oedipus the King and Antigone to Pericles's Funeral Oration in an attempt to show the parallels in content and style between them. Pericles in the opening parts of his oration begins to go into something that has always
As I see it, whoever assumes the task, the awesome task of setting the city's course, and refuses to adopt the soundest policies but fearing someone, keeps his lips locked tight, he's utterly worthless....But whoever proves his loyalty to the state - I'll prize that man in death as well as life (Antigone 48-49). "Further, we provide many ways to refresh the mind from the burdens of business. We hold contests and offer sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private establishments forms a daily source of pleasure and helps to drive away sorrow. The magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our harbor, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as familiar a luxury as those of his own." Although it seems that Sophocles writings parallel Pericles views on women's inferiority, certain excerpts provide a basis that Sophocles' views contradict those presented in the Funeral Oration. Pericles states, "if I must say anything on the subject of female excellence....Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for good or for bad" (Pericles 61-62). In an excerpt from Sophocles' Oedipus the King, it is seen that Oedipus gives great weight to Jocasta's opinion. Oedipus compares stories with Jocasta on the death of the king. He listens to Jocasta's side of the story, not putting her in a subordinate position or looking at her as inferior (Oedipus the King 23). "Realize for yourself the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her day after day, till you become her devoted lover. Then, when all her greatness breaks upon you, reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty and a keen feeling of honor in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valor, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution they could offer. By this mutual offering of their lives made by them all, they each of them individually received that renown which never grows old. For a sepulchre they have won not so much that tomb in which their bones are here deposited, but that noblest of shrines wherein their glory is laid up to be eternally remembered upon every occasion on which deed or story shall fall for its commemoration. For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb." We again come across an intersection in both statesmen's ideas, this time on the subject of courage. Pericles, in his funeral oration, talks of valor as being very honorable. He comments that "Choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting" (Pericles 60) is a bold and courageous act and it deserves praise and glory. He says the soldiers "fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face" (Pericles 60). Do these characteristics bring anyone we know to mind? The answer is yes, and two people come to mind: Antigone and Oedipus. Sophocles's heroin (Antigone) is the ultimate example of the subject Pericles discusses. True, Antigone was not a soldier, but she went against her uncle's beliefs and commands, and did what was right according to the gods. In burying her brother and then announcing her actions to the world, she "fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face." Antigone questioned Creon and proudly stated she was the offender, and did not regret her actions. Oedipus
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2310
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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