DOS+Analysis


 * __The Death of Socrates Analysis__**

In the excerpt, The Death of Socrates, taken from the play Phaedo by Plato, the antagonist, Socrates, had just been sentenced to death. The things he was charged for was corrupting the youth and piety. In other words teaching young people wrong things and disrespecting the gods. Many of his students believed that these charges where false and that he was really being charged with being against democracy. This scene takes place after this trial has happened and his fellow Athenians have sentenced him to death. It begins with Socrates speaking of death. Socrates conversed with his students that death mustn't be feared because, "death is one of two things... a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another." Socrates was a firm believer that both this situations where good due to the fact that he would either just sleep in peace for all eternity or he would have the pleasure of taking to other deceased men of great intellectual minds.

Would you prefer to sleep for all eternity or would you prefer to be able to talk to other deceased beings like Homer? Why?



In this play Socrates is depicted as a martyr. This is because in consequence of his teachings and his opinions. throughout the excerpt Plato makes sure to make the fact that Socrates was a martyr known to the reader, why do you think that is?