the-portrayal-of-socrates

12/16/2016 The Portrayal of
Socrates
CLCIV 101 Final Paper
Nico Romero
DR. GABRIEL N. MACEDO

In 399 B.C., a jury of 501 men held in their hands the life of Socrates. He was indicted on
charges of “studying things in the sky and below the earth” while also passing on this knowledge
to others.1 After the case had been heard, Socrates was ultimately punished to death, being found
guilty of the mentioned crimes. This essay seeks to analyze the prosecution and defense of
Socrates during the trial. Specifically, I will analyze how Aristophanes’ Clouds served as a
medium through which Socrates was made a pariah and ostracized from Athenian Society.
Moreover, Plato’s Apology will serve to display Socrates’ defense, in which Socrates attempted
to develop his character as ethical and innocent. Although the case was decided centuries prior to
today, analyzing the methods used to attack and defend Socrates’ character is relevant to
contemporary society to help explain the rationale behind the court’s decision and set a precedent
for the effectiveness of attacking and defending one’s morality and character.
An important distinction to make regarding the effectiveness of both Aristophanes and
Socrates’ arguments is the audience they attempted to persuade. Aristophanes’ work was a
comedy, thus primarily watched for enjoyment. People wanted to laugh, and Socrates was the
target in the Clouds. Likely, Aristophanes’ argument was more accessible to his audience
because it is easier to persuade people if they are laughing.2 In Plato’s Apology, Socrates was
attempting to persuade a 501-man jury. As the recollection of his defense states, Socrates made
many enemies.3 Since the jury was pooled from a vast number of men, it is likely that they were
or knew someone who was afflicted by Socrates. This would mean that they likely had a
personal vendetta against him, making it much more difficult for Socrates to dissuade conviction.
Aristophanes’ Clouds had made an impression on the general public as well as the jury
presiding over Socrates’ trial, evident when Socrates exclaimed Aristophanes’ slandered him.4
An in-depth analysis of various critical scenes in the Clouds will help to reveal the effects of the
play on the citizens of Athens. First, I will examine the scene on which Socrates is hanging in the
air to study elements of the Sun. To follow, a discussion on Socrates character’s belief in a new
God. Finally, there will be an analysis of Pheidippides’ actions at the end of the play and how
they serve to ruin the reputation of Socrates. All of these scenes served one distinct purpose—to
ostracize Socrates and defame his character.
1 Plato, Apology 19c
2 Benefits of Humor
3 Plato, Apology 23a

The first scene that helped Aristophanes ostracize Socrates is when Socrates’ character
was hanging mid-air to study the Sun. This scene made Socrates out to be abnormal and different
from other citizens, as suspending oneself in the air was certainly not a normal occurrence. This
abnormality creates distance between Socrates and the Athenian public, which would hinder
empathy towards Socrates during the trial. Continuing with the play, Strepsiades asked Socrates
why he was suspended in the air.5 By posting this question, Strepsiades is confirming the
crowd’s probable reaction to the scene, bewilderment. This strategy allowed Aristophanes to
further his cause by again displaying Socrates as abnormal, separating him from the audience of
the play. This separation is likely used to hurt Socrates’ character and therefore made it even
easier for him to be convicted. In response to Pheidippides, Socrates explained that he has to be
higher in the air to dilute the effects of gravity on the mind’s particles.6 Interestingly, the stage
directions for Strepsiades that follow are paramount. They tell the actor performing as
Strepsiades to be “baffled”.7 This response to Socrates confirms my idea of him being viewed as
weird or insane. Strepsiades, acting in a way as the vessel through which the audience’s expected
feelings towards Socrates are displayed, again finds Socrates to be acting differently from
Athenian society’s standards. Socrates’ actions harm his character by further ostracizing him and
could have served to be another root for the general opinion of Socrates heading into the trial.
To the disdain of Socrates, Aristophanes continued to portray him as a pariah by
depicting Socrates as believing in a new almighty God. In response to Strepsiades’ question on if
Socrates believed in Zeus, commonly looked upon as the chief deity in Greek Religion, Socrates
responded by asking “Zeus? Who’s Zeus?”.8 This response indicated that Socrates did not
believe that Zeus existed, or at the very least was of particular importance. His way of thinking
went against the consensus on religion, in which Zeus was championed as the most powerful
God, using thunder and lightning to reign over other deities and humans alike.9 Socrates had
been ostracized from the general public, the audience, for believing in a different deity. His
supposed religion was likely viewed as a negative aspect of his character. The probable outcome
was further negative connotations surrounding Socrates; Aristophanes struck once more.
5 Aristophanes, Clouds 223-224
7 Aristophanes, Clouds 235
9 Hesiod, Theogony 61

Furthermore, Socrates also called the idea of Zeus “rubbish”.10 Socrates thought that Strepsiades
was insane for believing in Zeus. Therefore, Socrates must have considered the entire audience
maniacs for their shared beliefs with Strepsiades. Socrates’ character abruptly transitions to one
that is weird to one that is hateful and attacks the shared beliefs of the Athenian people.
Hypothetically, instead of thinking that Socrates was weird and did not belong, the audience
viewed him as a menace, undesired in their culture. As the play continued, Aristophanes said that
Socrates did not believe in Zeus but rather in the Clouds.11 This idea likely was seen as idiotic
and insane as they were entirely different from the general belief of anthropomorphic deities. To
emphasize this idea, Strepsiades response to Socrates’ claim was “I need a crap!”12 This comedic
response surely conjured laughter from the audience, however, the underlying reasoning for this
response is quite possibly to mitigate Socrates’ belief. Aristophanes did not have Strepsiades
seriously nor respectfully listen to Socrates. The rudeness of Strepsiades probably went
unnoticed, because Socrates was just portrayed as being churlish. Furthermore, since Strepsiades
did not consider the Clouds to be relevant, the crowd may mimic his response and also consider
Socrates religious beliefs “rubbish.”
Clouds ended with the rude actions of Pheidippides and the backlash by Strepsiades.
Pheidippides said that he had the right to beat his father and his mother because they beat him.13
Although Pheidippides’ actions are his own, Aristophanes is likely trying to draw the connection
that Socrates taught the boy. Pheidippides even says that he was using his newly learned
“Wrong” form of argumentation, which means that his actions were unethical. By connecting the
abusive actions of Pheidippides with Socrates, Aristophanes furthered the negativity surrounding
him. Also, Pheidippides’ actions helped form the basis of the second portion of the affidavit, in
which Socrates was accused of passing on his knowledge to others.14 Strepsiades also blamed
Socrates and the Clouds for the malevolence of his son.15 In turn, Strepsiades burned down the
Thinkery.16 In doing so, Aristophanes’ seemingly foreshadowed the eventual death of Socrates.
Since the audience probably sides with Strepsiades that Pheidippides was acting malevolently,

they too may place blame upon Socrates and the Clouds. It is possible that Aristophanes wanted
the audience to believe that in order to prevent further corruption of the youth, Socrates must be
killed.
The second half this essay analyzes Socrates’ defense. Plato’s Apology portrayed
Socrates as uncompromising, unwilling to beg for mercy because he firmly believed in his
innocence17 In this manner, Socrates seemed to have set himself up to be a martyr after his
execution in 399 B.C. He attempted to dispel the claims made against him. First, Socrates
explained the reasoning behind the many instances of slander against his name. Next, he recalls
his questioning of Meletus, the main prosecutor, and attempted draw out a hypocritical
statement. Lastly, Socrates spoke of himself in a metaphor that relates to war in order to rebuild
his failing character.
In Socrates’ opinion, much of the slander against him arose after he revealed how
unsophisticated the “wise” citizens actually were.18 Since they were regarded as men with a
“reputation for wisdom”, it is clear that they would react with discontent towards Socrates.19 It is
possible that they hated Socrates for reducing their character and personal image, for being wise
was and still is a much-desired trait to possess. This hatred likely led to their accusations, a form
of revenge on Socrates for embarrassing them. Socrates wanted to prove to the jurors that these
allegations he considered slander were merely accusations from embarrassed citizens of Athens
and not well-reasoned impeachments. Furthermore, Socrates attempted to rebuild his image by
considering his work a “service to the God”.20 Socrates was attempting to center his argument
around the idea that he was doing God’s work, transforming his defense by heightening his
ethical appeal. Moreover, Socrates claimed that the God at Delphi considered no one wiser than
him.21 Following the Gods’ wisdom was an intrinsic part of Athenian society, so this tactic had
the opportunity to be beneficial for Socrates. However, his defense did not hold, and Socrates
failed to be favored by the jury. Socrates being blamed for “corrupting the young” was another
aspect of his defense22 Socrates explained that the youth who mimicked him did so without being
18 Plato, Apology 23b

coerced.23 Since Socrates did not directly demand their actions, he should not have been blamed.
Unfortunately for him, the adults they annoyed blamed him for his unintentional influence on the
children.24 They may have been influenced by the Clouds, as Socrates was portrayed as
corrupting Pheidippides. Considering the outcome of the trial, the jury likely did not side with
Socrates and blamed him for not being a paragon for the children of Athens. In their eyes, it was
the responsibility of the adults of Athens to set positive standards for the youth.
The next portion of Socrates’ defense was a recollection of questioning his major accuser,
Meletus. Although this plan of action could have delivered a huge setback for the prosecution,
the logic was flawed. To begin, Socrates asked Meletus who improved the young children of
Athens.25 Meletus responded that all citizens of Athens better the youth, except for Socrates.26 It
is clear that this was a leading question, Socrates knew that Meletus would give that particular
answer. It is clear that Socrates possessed some witty remark to make a fool of Meletus and the
prosecution. However, the jury was not impressed, likely because of the loose connection made
by using the abstract horse metaphor. Meletus considered that many men improved the lives of
the youth and only Socrates harmed them.27 In response, Socrates rebutted that for horses, only a
few men can help them while most cause them harm.28 Directly following, Socrates states how it
would be “very happy state of affairs if only one person corrupted our youth.”29 He overlooked
the confusion and illegitimacy of his statement. Comparing horses to humans does not make for
impregnable logic. If the jury felt that it was the responsibility of adults to act in positive
manners for the children, they must have felt that most men were able to do so if they truly
desired. Therefore, Meletus’ response was valid in their eyes. Additionally, Socrates proved why
the jury “should not be deceived” by his words.30 Although Meletus’ words contradict, the logic
behind said words was not flawed nor contradictory. Paradoxically, Socrates’ metaphor not only
failed to improve his standing among his peers but lowered it. Again, the outcome indicates that
Socrates was ineffective in dissuading the jury from convicting him. Therefore, it is plausible
25 Plato, Apology 24c-e, 25a

that the jury merely heard illogical nonsense. Also, since Socrates was viewed as someone who
talked “nonsense”, the irrationality of the previous statements further proved the stereotype.31
The last example of Socrates’ failed defense is another metaphor, but instead of horses,
he spoke of war. In Socrates’ mind, the people felt that he may be ashamed for his occupation as
it brought him to his death trial.32 To refute this idea, Socrates said that during the Age of
Heroes, Achilles refused the threat of death in order to avenge his friend, Patroclus.33 Essentially,
Socrates said that he would rather die than live as a coward.34 Moreover, Socrates recalls how he
risked his life in the war rather than fleeing from battle.35 The reason he gave these examples is
to explain why he lived the life of a philosopher. If he had abandoned his “post” in fear, he
would be a coward.36 By considering himself the opposite of a coward, Socrates attempted to
garner more ethical appeal. Arguably the strongest of his arguments, it still did not do enough to
prevent his execution. The lack of impact from his previous statements deemed his ethical appeal
beyond repair; Socrates was destined to be convicted.
In conclusion, it is evident that Aristophanes’ portrayal of Socrates played a role in
deciding his fate. However, Socrates was fighting down two bishops, Aristophanes’ play came
before the trial, and it is much easier to implant ideas into an audience of a play rather than a jury
with connections to those that disdain Socrates. Is it fair to compare both of the arguments? Not
beyond the point where one says Aristophanes was effective and Socrates was not. Aristophanes
had an easier route to success, being able to display Socrates in exaggerated situations to carve
the most ludicrous picture imaginable. Although the actual actions of Socrates played a larger
role in his conviction, the pre-established stereotypes of Socrates tilted the scale for the
prosecution. With his rhetoric and oral skills, he did have a chance to defend himself
successfully even with minimal odds of success. However, Socrates could not rebuild the ethical
appeal that he lost, which certainly played a role in his eventual demise. In 399 B.C, Socrates
consumed the virulent hemlock and descended into the realm of Hades.
34 Plato, Apology 28d
35 Plato, Apology 28e
36 Plato, Apology 28e

Works Cited
Benefits of Humor. 2002. Web. 7 12 2016.
Frazer, R.M. The Poems of Hesiod. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1983. Print.
Hackett Publishing Company. Plato: The Trial and Death of Socrates. Hackett Publishing
Company, n.d. Print.
Penguin Classics. Aristophanes: Lysistrata and Other Plays. Penguin Books, 2002. Print.

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