Apology To Socrates Analysis

Socrates, despite being executed centuries ago, continues to be a standing figure of a system of beliefs that is still exists today. Many people throughout the centuries have taken Socrates words into their own lives despite him being constantly ridiculed for being a disgrace to Athens. Throughout Plato’s Apology to Socrates, Socrates not only defends himself in the courtroom with honest facts about his life, but uses this as his last lecture to humanity in order to convince the people of Athens to follow his apprentices into live a life of virtue. In the beginning of the trial, Socrates appears to discreetly plant a seed of pity within the minds of his audience. He uses the praeteritio strategy well in this case by lightly foreshadowing …show more content…
To those who voted for Socrate’s release and freedom, Socrates seems to have more public sympathy and gratitude. Despite being moments away from death, he openly invites those who voted against his execution to “[tell] tales to one another as long as it is possible” (Plato, Apology, 39e). Although this statement of telling tales could be used in a general sense, it can be comprehended into something more than just exchanging stories. It can be seen as his last opportunity to go on and state his thoughts on what his death will means for Athens: a new beginning. This ‘new beginning’ is started bypassing the torch to his apprentices, such as Plato, so they shall continue to share his life work and philosophies long after he is gone. However, he also uses his apprentices as an act of intimidation amongst the rest of the crowd. Socrates stats that dispersed throughout the crowd in the courtroom, the majority of the audience has actually came to support Socrates in his time of desperate need. Socrates uses a forewarning to the members of the jury, as well as the crowd, that through his death they will seek revenge for more or less ‘murdering’ of their teacher who has given them meaning to their lives: “I affirm, you men who have condemned me to death, that vengeance will come upon you right after my death….there will be more who will refute you….they will be …show more content…
Through careful and through statements, he used his time in court to speak of his mortal value and his life’s purpose in hopes that many would gain sympathy for putting an innocent man through execution. Through Plato’s public publishing of Apology to Socrates, humans throughout centuries have continued to learn the true innocence that had been taken away from Socrates. But his legacy continues to live on in hopes that his life lessons will live on and inspire others on how life is truly measured, not in wealth, but in