The Speach of Pericles (Funeral Oration and Values of Athens)

Hello.

We are now reading a part of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, the section, for those of you who know it, called Pericles’ Funeral Oration. I think that this is a really wonderful speech because it talks a lot about Athens, the values they hold and what it means to be truly brave.

I will begin with the Athenian values. I believe they are:
• Courage/bravery/manliness
• Freedom
• Tradition/following your father
• Individuality (especially in government)
• Equality/fairness (also in government)
• “Love of things of the mind”
• Kindness to others
• General scruples

I think of these, the most important to the people, and certainly to Pericles, are the ones pertaining to their government, which they took great pride in, and the treatment of others. Several times he mentions the importance of a government that is equal to all of its people, be they rich or poor. Also, he talks about how unique such a government is, one of the quotes that stood out to me was the following from page 148, section 41, lines 13 and 14, “Future ages will wonder at us, as the present age wonders now.”

This will be a really important issue in the trial of Socrates that we are planning to put on because this society was a democracy where freedom reined supreme. This should include freedom of speech…yet Socrates was killed for expressing his own opinion and teaching it to the youth of Athens. If this society that Pericles praises so much were truly free, Socrates would not even receive a reprimand for his teachings.

Goodbye!