Why Did Socrates Decide To Stay In Prison Essay

The Crito takes place in the prison that Socrates was held in while he awaited his execution. During that time, his friend Crito came to visit and told Socrates of the plan he made to sneak him out of prison and into another country. Socrates death would come as a bad representation for his friends because everyone will think that they did nothing to try and free him. However, Socrates decides to stay in prison. By doing this, he will leave his sons fatherless and will aid his enemies who wrongfully accused him in the first place. Having argued these reasons to Socrates on why he should escape, Socrates explained why he was willing to wait for his execution. Socrates told Crito to not worry about the publics opinions. He told him to not worry …show more content…
If it were just, he would have left with Crito, however it would have been unjust of him to escape so he stayed and waited for his imminent death. The voice of the Laws of Athens explains to Socrates why it would be unjust of him to escape the prison. At the time, the laws were tied together as a whole so if a person were to break one, they would be breaking all of them. If Socrates were to escape and break the law, he would cause great harm by doing it. Citizens are bound to the laws. Rather than breaking the laws, Socrates should have tried to persuade the laws to let him go. By living in Athens, citizens are endorsing the laws and by doing so are willing to abide by them. If Socrates were to break away from the prison after living seventy years happily and content, he would make himself an outlaw whom nobody would welcome in other cities. And when he dies, he would be judged harshly for breaking the laws. By explaining this to Crito, Socrates convinces Crito to not attempt to break him …show more content…
Even though it is his own life at risk, Socrates is the more rational one during Crito’s attempted persuasion. Socrates’s response is astoundingly calm for his own life is on the line. Even though Socrates was wrongfully imprisoned, he tells Crito that he isn’t going to escape with him because he has preached to follow just reasoning. It’s clear when Socrates is talking to Crito that he has no means of escaping with him. Socrates tells Crito that it’s more important to live well than too live a bad life. Although it was true when Crito had said that Socrates hadn’t done anything to avoid his execution, it was necessary for Socrates to embrace it. It was his principles of belief that ultimately lead to his death. The authorities are probably as eager as Socrates friends are to let him live his life in exile. It can also be interpreted that when Socrates submits to his enemies, it’s basically like if he were to help his enemies. If he is allowing himself to be punished as people want, Socrates is also harming himself in accordance with their intentions. If no one can do wrong, Socrates is displaying ignorance in his actions and ultimately evil in allowing himself to be wronged. When Socrates views the laws of Athens as a voice, he allows himself to treat it as he would treat an agreement among 2 individuals. In this personification, Socrates makes