The texts Plato Symposium and Sappho, Selected Poems discuss the topic of love as experienced by a select few of society- and thus reject the notion that love is a universal human experience. Through this essay, love will be examined as it pertains to each text and then these ideas will be observed to understand how they reject the notion that love is a universal human experience. Set in ancient Greece, Plato’s work titled Symposium presents his view that love can only be experienced by men and boys -through various speeches given by characters who are giving eulogies on love. Although many different ideas are presented through the speeches, one common theme holds true throughout all seven speeches: not once is the notion of real and virtuous
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Instead she writes that one must work for it and chase it. In the allusion to Helen, Sappho recalls that Helen had to go off in pursuit of love “leaving behind the best man of all, and sail away to Troy”. Love in this case required a sacrifice to be made- her former life and “the best man of all”- suggesting that love does not come to those who wait by passively. And while love does seize someone, it does not ensure that the satisfaction of love will be obtained or guaranteed. When “slender Aphrodite overwhelmed [Sappho] with longing for a boy” a sense that love is lacking is implied. One would not long for a love they possess, instead they long for love they lack. Similarly, the love felt between Atthis and Sappho was not permanent. Originally, the two split -possibly due to Atthis being married away- and left each other still as lovers. However, time passed and eventually this love between the two turned to hate and Sappho states “Atthis, for you the thought of me has become hateful” and that she “loved you Atthis once long ago”. There was no work done by either of the two to maintain their relationship. Love does not care that it may be physically impossible to maintain a relationship due to forced separation (such as with Atthis and Sappho) or other circumstances, love will still leave regardless. Therefore, Sappho is of the opinion that love must be worked
Instead she writes that one must work for it and chase it. In the allusion to Helen, Sappho recalls that Helen had to go off in pursuit of love “leaving behind the best man of all, and sail away to Troy”. Love in this case required a sacrifice to be made- her former life and “the best man of all”- suggesting that love does not come to those who wait by passively. And while love does seize someone, it does not ensure that the satisfaction of love will be obtained or guaranteed. When “slender Aphrodite overwhelmed [Sappho] with longing for a boy” a sense that love is lacking is implied. One would not long for a love they possess, instead they long for love they lack. Similarly, the love felt between Atthis and Sappho was not permanent. Originally, the two split -possibly due to Atthis being married away- and left each other still as lovers. However, time passed and eventually this love between the two turned to hate and Sappho states “Atthis, for you the thought of me has become hateful” and that she “loved you Atthis once long ago”. There was no work done by either of the two to maintain their relationship. Love does not care that it may be physically impossible to maintain a relationship due to forced separation (such as with Atthis and Sappho) or other circumstances, love will still leave regardless. Therefore, Sappho is of the opinion that love must be worked