The Characterization Of Meltus In The Apology Of Socrates

Humans have a tendency to let certain strong emotions or feeling take control of them and affect them in many ways. These emotions can act as a type of barrier to understanding and comprehending reality. In the book The Apology of Socrates, Meletus of the prosecution is blinded and sees reality in a distorted sense due to his large pride and hatred against Socrates. Meletus is the “representative”, in a sense, for the poets who Socrates insulted by insinuating that the poets were not wise. Meletus is rather indignant with Socrates and also is puffed up in his own self-importance. Socrates questions Meletus with very intensive questions and Meletus doesn’t realize his short, arrogant answers lead him further into a logical grave. Socrates asks questions that deal in absolutes, such as asking Meletus if …show more content…
Meletus harbors a nasty hatred against Socrates. He harbors one because of what Socrates has done, namely go “to the poets…in order that [he] might at the same time learn something from them” (Apology. 22. 22. A7-B5). What Socrates learned was that the poets were not wise but perceived to be wise and that their wise words were actually inspired and no true knowledge rested in the heads of the poets. Meletus takes this very personally and is at the forefront of accusing Socrates. This anger towards Socrates blinds Meletus as did the pride. The perceived reality of Meletus, twisted by his hatred and pride, make him vulnerable to the verbal attacks of Socrates. His anger blinds him to pitfalls and makes him reckless in an attempt to hurt and convict Socrates. Just as pride made Meletus perceive the atmosphere of the argument differently, his anger made Meletus a poor debater against Socrates and Socrates takes full advantage of this and launches into a long discourse about his reasoning. Meletus is rather powerless against him because he had been beaten by Socrates and has no rebuttal against his