Comparing Gorgias And Xenophon's The Education Of Socrates

As a student of Socrates it would make sense that Plato’s representation of Socrates would accurately illustrate Socrates’ beliefs of power within tyrants. However, I would like to argue that Plato’s rendition of Socrates within Gorgias inappropriately reflects upon the historical Socrates. The overarching motif of a powerful tyrant within both Plato’s Gorgias and Xenophon’s The Education of Cyrus proves that the historical figure Socrates believes that a tyrant is fully capable and powerful over the people he/she rules. In a discussion of orators and tyrants, Plato’s Socrates claims that "both… have the least power in their cities… for they do just about nothing they want to" (466e). Instead, Socrates claims that the actions a tyrant must carry out such as "put[ting] …show more content…
This is because while Xenophon does not outrightly state his opinions on the power of a tyrant unlike Plato’s rendition of Socrates, instead he focuses his entire text on glorifying the events in which a tyrant overtakes those surrounding him until what surrounds him is no longer populations to conquer but rather mountains and oceans. Xenophon’s focus on Cyrus’ success in overpowering every populations within reach supports Xenophon’s indirect claim that Cyrus is forcefully powerful. When marching upon Assyria, Cyrus has no fear. Xenophon recounts that "with the calvary they made raids and captured vast and varied booty. And after this, while changing their camp, having what they required in abundance, and ravaging the country, they awaited the enemy" (III.3.23). This scene illustrates Cyrus’ ability to remain calm at the face of war. His peace comes from an internal assurance that there is nothing for him to fear as he has vanquished countless cities in the past(I.1.4). By sheer might and military prowess alone, Cyrus exemplifies his power over the