The Golden Mean Sparknotes

The Golden Mean

The Golden Mean is a novel that is told in first person by a famous philosopher named Aristotle. The novel begins with the arrival of Aristotle, Callisthenes, and Pythias in Pella, Macedonia. They expect to stay only a few days before continuing on to Athens, however, they are obliged to settle for several years when the king wants a tutor for his son. Phillip the second’s son’s name is Alexander, who Aristotle tutors. This leads to the main focus of the story. The Golden Mean gives insight on what it would be like to live in Ancient Greece hundreds of years ago. In this book, the readers feel engaged and their mind can picture what is was like as the characters talk descriptively. Overall, the book made me want to keep reading

This leads to another main idea of the book The Golden Mean. The women are treated like slaves even though they are not compared to or called a slave. In the novel on page seven, Aristotle says, “Women are not a part of public life here.” “Men and women don’t attend entertainments together, or even eat out together. Women of your rank aren’t seen. They don’t even go out.” Unfortunately, this attitude is completely normal back in 500 B.C.E. There is also to be absolutely no sign of affection in public. This includes something so simple like holding hands, hugging and kissing. Some nowadays may see this as respect and others not respect, but either way women are not valued back in Ancient Greece. They also marry at very young ages like Pythias did at age fifteen. This is to get them out of the help because they do not work and instead work on the house by cleaning and cooking. The author Annabel Lyon portrayed this theme by not having Pythias and other women of the novel talk much and have any say in the plot. They are barley brought up in the story and have little say in anything. Also, since Aristotle narrates the novel, the readers read his thoughts, which also shows how he thinks of his wife. Not only Aristotle, but all other men of this time period also think this way. “Pretty, I call her; once, maybe. Now her hair hangs thin and lank, and her brows, ten days without tweezing, have begun to

Aristotle, the philosopher, tutors many young people like Alexander and helps them grow in life. He cares about others and can see a potential for them when the public and society sees them as nothing. Also, women are not appreciated or respected during this era and are only seen for cleaning and sex. This novel helps readers understand in an interesting way, what time was like in Ancient Greece. The book itself, helps explain the era and gives a better insight into Ancient Greece. I thought the books were attention-grabbing and made you wonder when not reading the book. Largely, the story of the novel was great and the content was