A Comparison Of Apology In The Trial And Death Of Socrates

No great hero goes down without a fight. Typically, when one hears the word “hero,” images of a great soldier, military leader, or even their favorite Avenger comes to mind. Yes- those are all heroes, but it can also be any person who stands for courage and holds onto their true beliefs through good times and bad. The great Socrates is the true epitome of a hero; this is most evident around the time of his death. While reading Plato’s “Apology” in The Trial and Death of Socrates, it is almost impossible to not be inspired by his bravery and tenacity. When Socrates was tried for his controversial beliefs, he still refused to abandon his ideals, even in the face of death. Simultaneously, he gave fantastic reasoning as to why he should not be charged for living the way he did. Socrates could not have done more to secure his own acquittal. Socrates’ greatest ally in the defense of his position was his dedication to stay true to himself. To directly quote Socrates, “It was to my advantage to be as I am” (26)†. Socrates was tried with three separate crimes. He was charged with the acknowledgement of other deities, failure to recognize the gods the state did, and the corruption of Athens’ youth. Socrates was infuriated at these accusations, as they were not true at all in his eyes.

Socrates stated that throughout his life, he had grown more and more unpopular. He relates a great point early on in the

Those who believe that Socrates could in fact have done more to secure his own acquittal might argue that Socrates should have been more civil in his defense. Although Socrates maintained very intelligent responses and rationalizations, he could have done so in a more composed and less offensive fashion. One could argue that he could have secured his acquittal with a more understated approach. But this argument can be immediately refuted by what was quoted earlier- Socrates does best when he is