When discussing the education of men and women, it is stated that “They ought to do everything together” which before continuing seems so progressive for ancient Greek literature, but then it goes on “except that we treat the males as stronger and the females as weaker” (The Republic, Book V, 449D-453A). Socrates then goes on to talk about how ridiculous the sight would be to see women participating in gymnastics wrestling with men while both in the nude (one is supposed to assume most or all sport took place in the nude in ancient Greece). So it becomes clear as to how one should interpret his character 's view on women; perhaps not as conservative as those around him in ancient Greece but prejudicial nonetheless. In Clouds, women are on the backburner, rarely mentioned if at all by Socrates; femininity is spoken about in the use of language
When discussing the education of men and women, it is stated that “They ought to do everything together” which before continuing seems so progressive for ancient Greek literature, but then it goes on “except that we treat the males as stronger and the females as weaker” (The Republic, Book V, 449D-453A). Socrates then goes on to talk about how ridiculous the sight would be to see women participating in gymnastics wrestling with men while both in the nude (one is supposed to assume most or all sport took place in the nude in ancient Greece). So it becomes clear as to how one should interpret his character 's view on women; perhaps not as conservative as those around him in ancient Greece but prejudicial nonetheless. In Clouds, women are on the backburner, rarely mentioned if at all by Socrates; femininity is spoken about in the use of language