Textual Analysis - Essay Example

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS History and Political Science: There is a form of internal contradiction depicted through the stance of Callicles, though Socrates lacks any aspect of contradiction1. Moreover, their positions are interrelated due to the fact that Socrates’ stance is attributed to advocacy based on the theory of psychic harmony, which focuses on concentrating on the consistency of the beliefs. In this case, developing a interpretation through exploration of responsibilities of Socrates in terms of the methods of elenchus in the dialogue can facilitate assessment of the failure involved in confrontation of Callicles.

Conflicts were caused by Callicles’ soul, which lacked harmony; thereby, establishing elements that imposed constraints to Socratic Method. There were claims made by Callicles indicating that there was a form of opposition facilitated by these methods to conventions, nature and law. Nevertheless, Socrates is characterized by other notion that establishes a perception that is contrary to this opposition. In fact, this is based on the Callicles definition of strength or superiority. Therefore, this paper analyzes dispute between Socrates and Callicles in relation to their characteristics as triumphant political leaders, thereby determining whom Kreon from “Antigone” would agree with.

Kreone became the king after deaths of Eteocles and Polyneices, who were brothers; in fact, they killed each other after a conflict that involved the throne. Nevertheless, Kreone offered Eteocles honourable burial, while Polyneices was eaten by vultures. In this case Antigone does not agrees with the actions of Kreon citing reasons that Polyneices was entitled to a reasonable burial. In fact, Antigone suggests that her sister Ismene would have buried him; instead, she decided to refrain since she never wanted to disobey Kreon.

Antigone made a decision to bury her brother, but Kreon discovered that Polyneices has been buried and decided to send people to uncover his body. Furthermore, Antigone made efforts to bury her brother’s body against Kreon’s will, and this led to a death sentence. Consequently, this sentence angers Kreon’s son who was engaged to Antigone2. Finally, Antigone decided to commit suicide due to the death sentence, and this led to a loss for Kreon since his son stabbed himself to death due Antigones death; in fact, the death of his son led to the decision of Kreon to commit suicide by slitting her throat.

Kreon has depicted through a character defined by pride and vengeance through his decision to deny Polyneices honourable burial. On the other hand, Antigone was is depicted to be caring due to her concern to bury her departed brother; in fact, she is portrayed through her possession of high standards of humanity, and she was determined to bury her brother despite Kreon hindrances. In this case, from the analysis of these readings, it is evident that Kreon seems to agree with Callicles given that they share the same ideology of being arrogant and developing conflicts.

Therefore, Kreon caused conflict with Antigone by deciding to uncover her brother’s body, while Callicles caused conflicts with Socrates by disregarding their methods. Bibliography Arieti, J and Barrus, Roger. Plato Gorgias. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, 2007Woolf, Raphael. “Callicles and Socrates: Psychic (DIS) Harmony in the Gorgias”. Harvard University. 2000. Available online at: http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-825081-9.pdf. [Accessed on 11 Feb 2013]