Literary Analysis Essay on Gorgias

Introduction

Plato was a Greece author of Gorgias in around 380 BC. Through the conversation, one can follow the ideas of Socrates and other sophists who are at dinner. The arguments try to look into the real meaning of rhetoric while presenting the real meaning of philosophy. However, the concept of Pericles is still considered throughout the excerpt. Pericles was a Greek statesman and the general of Athens during the golden age. Plato argues that at that same time, the Sophistic oratory existed in Athens. However, to Plato, Socrates was the truest statesman contrary to Pericles as he founded his political ideas on the good.

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It is noted that persuasion was essential for the attainment of a particular political and legal advantage in classical Athens alongside the existence of Pericles. According to Plato, Gorgias was attracted to Athens for their reputation for intellect and culture. It was at that time that rhetoric was used to persuade individual gain.

In the dialogues entirety, Gorgias utilizes Pericles as an instance of powerful oratory. Pericles would exercise political interest by delivering speeches (Plato, 1979). As a result of the speeches and engagement with the public, he gained popularity, and his name was included in a political arena as a result of the ability to master oratory skills. Since he had the best speaking models, he was regarded as the best speaker in Athens. Despite his frequent speeches, he was considered a great leader who used all his skills to ensure the occupation of Athenians that were not involved in an army as well as the unskilled (Wardy, 2005). Therefore, through his knowledge regarding psychology, Pericles could persuade the assembly.

Plato himself declares that he knew Pericles made Athenians "slothful, garrulous and avaricious" by introducing a system that comprised public fees (Plato, 1979). The payments would lead to the Athenians becoming lazy citizens. However, payment was a necessary factor in the Athenian democracy for ensuring that some, if not all of the citizens, would turn up for political institutions of the city-state. On the contrary, some arguments claimed that the arrangement would be the final abandoning of the city-state that Athenians would be paid for participating in the political issues. Socrates would be lured into the gatherings as he was the person that would pose questions rather than give answers. Therefore, Socrates would participate in public political discussions in a democratic city-state (Wardy, 2005). Even as Pericles made Athenians wild through public participation, any associated political discussions would give Plato a physical form. The participation of Plato in such public affairs was regarded as a fulfilling of the idea of the son of a citizen who has a higher status. However, the perspective was abandoned by Plato since there were political events in Athens that were interpreted through the life and death of Socrates.

In the dialogue, Plato is inquisitive of whether the great politicians including Pericles had any reasonable ground for their politics or whether their political ideologies had no solid ground (Plato, 1979). He also seemed to understand whether the Athenians were made as good as possible and whether they were enhanced by the Pericles. The dialogue presents a dilemma of whether Athenians were only left in deprivation from Pericles making them lazy, and chatty as a result of holding public office.

Plato critically articulates the political stakes through a proper assessment of Pericles. In his conversations, he would criticize the ability of his contemporaries to respect the values and memories of Pericles. He does that by setting up a contest amongst Pericles and Socrates (Plato, 1979). He attacks the Pericles for the allegations of luring Athenians to associate themselves with their demands rather than the demands of the citizens. Plato critiques democratic politics because they rely on rhetoric, a fact that would breed panderers contrary to leaders (Enos, 1976). As a result, there would only result in people who cater to the desires of the city other than seeking to modify them in various dimensions. There is also a portrayal of Pericles as demos with tasty but unhealthy treats. In his conversation, it is clear that he does not associate with demos and nor does he articulate painful truths. However, he panders to them. The highly regarded leaders including Pericles were signed out for specific disdain.

Gorgias is essential as is associated with sophism, which although related to traditional philosophy would still emphasize a practical application of rhetoric to political life. During Georgia's lifetime, there were democratic city-states of the Leontini and Athens. In practical life, there would still be a loose alliance that exists between the two. Additionally, the laws of Pericles associated justice with arguments especially in a democracy that consists of many instead of a few. Even though there is a restriction of social stand, class or poverty, freedom still exists, which considers working on public life and tolerating some other people who do as they please. In the democracy of Pericles and at present, those who refuse to take part in public life and politics are termed useless. Various queries are answered in the dialogue by Plato effectively. Other sources liaise with the ideas of Plato in a consistent fashion.

References

Enos, R. L. (1976). The epistemology of Gorgias' rhetoric: A reexamination. Southern Speech Communication Journal, 42(1), 35-51.

Plato, J. H. (1979). Gorgias.

Wardy, R. (2005). The birth of rhetoric: Gorgias, Plato, and their successors. Routledge.