What Is The Persuasive Speech In Plato's Phaedrus?

Plato’s Phaedrus deifies traditions and customs of ancient Greek writing. Plato’s narrative uses dialogue to teach the reader about rhetoric and love. Rhetoric as defined by Plato “is the art of moving the soul with words (speeches)”. Plato begins Phaedrus by introducing two characters; Phaedrus, a young man who is interested in becoming a great speaker, and Socrates, an older resident and philosopher of Athens. Plato provides the reader with three speeches each presenting a separate view on the three kinds of lovers. Throughout these three speeches the reader gains an insight on persuasive ethics. The first speech is fair-minded when describing characteristic differences of the lover and non-lover. The second speech is slightly brash presenting a type

Phaedrus informs Socrates that he had just heard a speech by Lysias, the greatest rhetorician of the age and a sophist. Socrates, eager to hear Lysias’ speech entices Phaedrus to reenact it. Phaedrus obliges and recounts Lysias’ speech depicting the advantages and disadvantages of the love and non-lover. Lysias’ speech intends to persuade the audience to view the non-lover as the more accommodating choice. “But if you are persuaded by me, first, in my association with you I shall attend not to present pleasure, but also to the benefit that lies in store for the future; I’ll not be worsted by love, but in mastery of myself…” (Phaedrus p. 33). The lover is described, as someone who gets jealous, is obsessive or controlling, and desires physical appearance before the mind. Furthermore the lover, brings turmoil back, is overly sensitive, and overly encouraging or fearful of the beloved. Whereas, the non-lover is presented as the friend, who prefers the mind to physical appearance, is less needy, and won’t diminish your reputation. A non-lover, will not expect gifts back, exercises more self-control, more rational thought, is not jealous of friends or the time, and is less likely to be