There is a structure in love where everything and everyone has a similarity, a cookie-ness. This cookie-ness could be as simple as everyone being male, female, loving men or women, and so on. In Plato’s Symposium, we learn about the uniqueness of love, the beauty inside and out, and the relationships between younger men and older men. Most importantly, we learn that Socrates is different. He doesn’t play by the rules of the ‘beauty ladder’. This essay will look at the lack of cookie-ness of Socrates through how other characters describe him as wise, a satyr, and a statue of Silenus.
All characters in the Symposium would agree that Socrates is wise and knowledgeable. In the start of the novel, there was mention of an oracle who was asked who …show more content…
At the same time, he also calls Alcibiades a Satyr. Satyrs are small goat-men who carry around flutes and play songs. In ancient mythology, their songs could often manipulate others into sleep or do as the Satyr pleased. Satyrs are often not described as beautiful creatures on the outside, but their songs are mesmerizing. By calling Socrates a Satyr, Alcibiades is referring to the fact that Socrates is not beautiful on the outside, but his wisdom and words mesmerize people until they are no longer capable of counterpointing what Socrates has said. “You’re quite a flute-player aren’t you? In fact, you’re much more marvelous than Marsyas, who needed instruments to cast his spells on people.” (66.215C). Alcibiades is accusing Socrates of using his beautiful speeches and sweet words to manipulate people into believing what he says. Similarly, the Satyr Marsyas does this with a flute. There is a strong comparison between Socrates and Satyrs, both are ugly on the outside, but draw people in with their beautiful …show more content…
Alcibiades was killed later in his life for mutilating statues, so the irony is clear in his statement that Socrates is indeed a statue. “Isn’t he just like the statue of Silenus? You know the kind of statue I mean; you’ll find them in any shop in town. It’s a Silenus sitting, his flute or his pipes in his hand, and it’s hollow. It’s split right down the middle, and inside it’s full of tiny statues of the gods.” (65.215B). Silenus is again a flute player, someone who can draw in crowds with his beautiful music. At the same time, the statue of Silenus is full of smaller statues of other gods. Alcibiades describes Socrates as such because he is compared to Love, a god, at least in Alcibiades’ eyes. This is, of course, keeping in mind that Alcibiades is in love with Socrates and craves him for his wisdom. Part of the way through his speech, Alcibiades also mentions how Socrates says he is ignorant and knows nothing. “Also, he likes to say he’s ignorant and knows nothing. Isn’t this just like Silenus?” (68.210E). Alcibiades calls out Socrates ‘lies’ concerning his ignorance, pointing out that it is all just an act to get under people’s. This, too, is another trait of the Silenus. Ignorant and stone cold like the shell of the statue that holds hidden secrets
All characters in the Symposium would agree that Socrates is wise and knowledgeable. In the start of the novel, there was mention of an oracle who was asked who …show more content…
At the same time, he also calls Alcibiades a Satyr. Satyrs are small goat-men who carry around flutes and play songs. In ancient mythology, their songs could often manipulate others into sleep or do as the Satyr pleased. Satyrs are often not described as beautiful creatures on the outside, but their songs are mesmerizing. By calling Socrates a Satyr, Alcibiades is referring to the fact that Socrates is not beautiful on the outside, but his wisdom and words mesmerize people until they are no longer capable of counterpointing what Socrates has said. “You’re quite a flute-player aren’t you? In fact, you’re much more marvelous than Marsyas, who needed instruments to cast his spells on people.” (66.215C). Alcibiades is accusing Socrates of using his beautiful speeches and sweet words to manipulate people into believing what he says. Similarly, the Satyr Marsyas does this with a flute. There is a strong comparison between Socrates and Satyrs, both are ugly on the outside, but draw people in with their beautiful …show more content…
Alcibiades was killed later in his life for mutilating statues, so the irony is clear in his statement that Socrates is indeed a statue. “Isn’t he just like the statue of Silenus? You know the kind of statue I mean; you’ll find them in any shop in town. It’s a Silenus sitting, his flute or his pipes in his hand, and it’s hollow. It’s split right down the middle, and inside it’s full of tiny statues of the gods.” (65.215B). Silenus is again a flute player, someone who can draw in crowds with his beautiful music. At the same time, the statue of Silenus is full of smaller statues of other gods. Alcibiades describes Socrates as such because he is compared to Love, a god, at least in Alcibiades’ eyes. This is, of course, keeping in mind that Alcibiades is in love with Socrates and craves him for his wisdom. Part of the way through his speech, Alcibiades also mentions how Socrates says he is ignorant and knows nothing. “Also, he likes to say he’s ignorant and knows nothing. Isn’t this just like Silenus?” (68.210E). Alcibiades calls out Socrates ‘lies’ concerning his ignorance, pointing out that it is all just an act to get under people’s. This, too, is another trait of the Silenus. Ignorant and stone cold like the shell of the statue that holds hidden secrets