Thucydides - When War Comes

A detailed Summary of Thucydides - When War Comes

In Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, war brings along with many negative elements for a society. These negative effects are seen very clearly in Athens during the Plague and in Corcyra during the civil war. Lawlessness, dissipation of religion and acts of treason are among these effects that are seen by Thucydides in his accounts. He tries to inform his reader on the horrifying effects that a war has on a society, and does so clearly using Athens and Corcyra in their times of desperation.

As the great power of Athens was subjected to the plague, Athenians inside as well as outside the walls surrounding the city began to lose hope. Although perhaps they were content about this at first, for the day the plague broke out the Spartans retreated under the command of King Archidamus. But this notion of content is quickly dismissed as the severity of the plague increases rapidly. Thucydides uses the plague as a metaphor for war, it shows up usually out of no where and worsens with time. While the plague lowered the enthusiasm the Athenians had built up during Pericles' funeral oration, the war brings down people in the form of their lives. Thucydides uses the plague as a perfect exa

As war comes, it brings down society. Thucydides uses the examples of The Plague in Athens and the civil war in Corcyra to demonstrate the change the citizens of those cities during these harsh times. Complete lawlessness, dissipation of religion and authoritative figures, and many innumerable deaths. When war comes, war comes full force.

mple because its effects are so similar to that of a war, and because while the plague is taking place, Athens is at war with Sparta. People change completely, their attitudes and their faith. Long-term thinking is abolished and short-term thinking is brought about. No longer are the Athenians worried about their future, and how they will and can prosper later on in life, they are only concerned with this very moment. What can they do now, that will help them now. Just as in war, the citizens of Athens need to find someone to blame all these atrocious events on, and who better than Pericles. After all, he was the one that got the Athenians into this mess in the first place, wasn't he? Thucydides is trying to map out for his readers the extent to which a once highly civilized society will go in times of desperation. During the plague, Athenians went against everything that Athenians were said to be. This weakened them tremendously by demoralizing and turning everything upside down. Thucydides is trying to point out the negat

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Approximate Word count = 931
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History