Plato’s Apology: Socrates The Fearless

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Plato’s Apology takes place when Socrates is put on trial in front of the city of Athen’s leaders. It is here Plato speaks his own version of a speech given by Socrates to defend himself. Socrates makes it as clear as he can that he is not afraid of the death sentence verdict he is given and that if he did not receive it, he would continue to question life the way he always has. No signs of fear or anxiety are evident during his speech, which creates a very bold and brave front. Socrates wants to avoid causing himself unnecessary suffering, although he is not afraid of death. He wants to finish his life the way he has lived it so far. Socrates, though dauntless as it may seem possible for someone in his situation, wants to avoid causing himself any unnecessary suffering. He showed this in both paragraphs 13 and 22. “Why should I offer to live in a prison, slaving away...” (13) is during a part where he is almost ranting about his pride and his punishment. Socrates could very easily suggest a punishment such as this, but he is of old age and will meet his end soon regardless. It makes no sense to cause extra pain for himself in order to attempt to prolong his death. In a later paragraph he says that, “...nothing evil can befall a good person either in life or in death; and the god will not neglect his or her fate” (22). Socrates has been very careful not to harm anyone and to try and keep his name clear of actual crimes. He knows that he has consistently been a good person. If there is a god to judge him after he passes, he is confident that nothing negative will come to him. All in all, he has come to accept the idea of death enough not to go out of his way to prevent it. Although Socrates could easily give in and plead for a ... ... middle of paper ... ...” (16). Socrates did not want to give in and humor the Athenians by letting them see him acting in such a lowly way. Socrates doesn’t see the point in changing the way he lives his life in what very well may be the last moments of it just to attempt to buy himself a little more time. It isn’t very often that we meet someone who, like Socrates, can look at a terrible and depressing situation and be seemingly unafraid, noticeably with pride still in tact. He doesn’t opt for extra time that would bring along with it pain and humiliation, but instead accepts and wonders about his upcoming death. People like Socrates who have so much faith in their beliefs they would want to die if they couldn’t continue sharing them aren’t very common, but this kind of passion, though maybe not to this extreme, is what we hope to find in our country’s doctors, engineers, and leaders.
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