Menexenus by Plato

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About this eBook

Author Plato, 428? BCE-348? BCE
Translator Jowett, Benjamin, 1817-1893
Title Menexenus
Note Socrates
Note Reading ease score: 54.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Sue Asscher, and David Widger
Summary "Menexenus" by Plato is a dialogue that takes the form of a rhetorical exercise written during the late classical period of ancient Greece. The text features a conversation between Socrates and his friend Menexenus and centers on a funeral oration that Socrates claims to recount from Aspasia, the esteemed companion of Pericles. The work primarily discusses themes of memory, honor, and the nature of rhetoric in the context of Athenian society and its values. The dialogue begins with Socrates discussing the role of rhetoric in praising the dead, reflecting on the artifice of public speeches that often obscure the darker aspects of history. As Socrates delivers the oration, he extols the virtues of Athenian ancestors who fought bravely in significant battles such as Marathon and Salamis, while highlighting the nobility of their actions and the city's inherent greatness. The oration contains an ironic undertone as it blends genuine appreciation with satirical commentary on the exaggerations common in such speeches. Ultimately, the "Menexenus" serves as both an homage to Athenian valor and a critique of rhetorical practices, revealing Plato's nuanced view on the use of language in shaping public perception and memory. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
LoC Class PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature
Subject Classical literature
Subject Rhetoric, Ancient
Subject Rhetoric -- Philosophy
Category Text
EBook-No. 1682
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 16, 2013
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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