Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The book has been awarded with , and many others. The Symposium 201d-204c Summary & Analysis | LitCharts. The philosopher, Socrates gave his speech last, claiming that his speech was merely a repetition of what a wise woman named Diotima once told him. Plot Summary. The first edition of the novel was published in -385, and was written by Plato. Symposium by Plato Summary and Analysis of The Speech of Pausanias Phaedrus ’ speech was followed by several others which Aristodemus remembered poorly, so Apollodorus continued on to tell of Pausanias ’ speech. The Greek word eros leaves the matter ambiguous as to whether we are discussing love in the normal, human, sense of the word, or if we are discussing desire in a much broader sense. Need help with 201d-204c in Plato's The Symposium? Eryximachus proposes giving encomiums to Love, to which all agree. Within the dialogue, the speakers told of the characteristics of the gods related to love as a definition of what love is. Pausanias follows this speech, with a rather self-righteous tone. She then describes the rites of love, also referred to as the “Ladder of Love.” First, a person loves one body, and then he finds beauty in all bodies. The aim of this commentary is to make Plato’s Symposium as accessible as possible to intermediate-level Greek readers so that they may experience the joy, insight, and lasting influence that comes from reading some of the greatest works in classical antiquity in the original Greek. It is lively and entertaining, with sharp and witty characterization that gives us valuable insight into the social life of Athenian intellectual circles. was Plato’s teacher and appears as a main character in many of Plato’s dialogues, including Symposium. The Question and Answer section for Symposium by Plato is a great Summary of the Argument. Ultimately, he concludes, the philosopher's search for wisdom is the most valuable of all pursuits. A summary of Part X (Section2) in Plato's The Symposium. Through his description of Socrates and his relationship as the beloved of Socrates, he likens him to Eros, illustrating the arguments made in Diotima’s speech. Phaedrus begins giving a speech focused on the virtue of bravery in love. "Symposium by Plato Summary". Following Agathon’s speech, Socrates, with Agathon's permission and cooperation, deconstructs his speech. This description of Love is further explained when Socrates tells them a dialogue he had with Diotima on Love long ago. No fewer than six of its thirteen contributions (those by Sedley, Sheffield, Nightingale, Shields, Price, and Destrée) home in on the goal of philosophic ascent in Diotima's speech and the characteristic activity of … The speeches are to be given in praise of Eros, the god of love and desire. We should note that Socrates is the exemplar of the lover of wisdom and the lover of beauty, but is neither wise nor beautiful himself. The First Five Speeches. While other works among Plato's middle-period dialogues, such as the Republic and the Phaedo, contain more philosophical meat, more closely examining the Theory of Forms and intensely cross-examining interlocutors, none can match the dramatic force of the Symposium. Love himself never has anything, but is always desirous of happiness, beauty, and wisdom. It can be classified as a tragicomedy, using elements of both genres. It is the first major philosophical text on love in Western literature. Giving birth from the soul is a purer form of love and stronger form of immortality, such as that of poets and politicians, and only males can be pregnant of the soul. Socrates retells Diotima’s speech, the longest and most serious one of the night, where she describes the “Ladder of Love,” one of the most famous ideas of the novel. Love is inextricably linked to the desire for immortality. Plato intentionally portrays some as ignorant and others as valid thoughts on the matter of love. § vii. Significantly, we see Plato rejecting the romanticization of sexual love, valuing above all an asexual and all-consuming passion for wisdom and beauty. Plato’s Symposium : Analysis and Commentary Symposium is central in Plato’s philosophy, since it talks about Love and Ideas. Plato’s Symposium is a series of speeches on Love given at a party in ancient Greece. Pausanias began by reminding the gathering that their purpose was to give speeches praising Love. § v. Alcibiades and his Speech. They deal with questions of: what Love is; interpersonal relationships through love; what types of love are worthy of praise; the purpose of love; and others. § viii. You'll get access to all of the Symposium content, as well as access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. From a philosophical standpoint, the Symposium is also far from bankrupt. Diotima gives what is perhaps a satisfactory answer by suggesting that, while all kinds of desire might be considered love, we normally restrict use of that term to one particular kind of desire, the desire that exists between two human beings. Almost everything can have love and it is of vital importance in his field of medicine. Phaedrus is a dialogue written by Plato around 370 BC. The Symposium The Symposium was written by Plato in the 4th century BCE. § x. Bibliography. Phaedrus begins by saying that Love is one of the oldest of the gods, and the one that does the most to promote virtue in people. His stories of Achilles’ and Alcestis’ acts of self-sacrifice for the lover and beloved exemplify the bravery of love. Overview . His is one of the most comedic, even though he is a tragedian. He praises Heavenly Love and discusses the role of law, justice, and customs in leading beloveds to make a virtuous choice regarding taking lovers. Reproduction is the mortal’s way of reaching immortality and will only happen in the presence of beauty. The state of having attained wisdom is represented by Diotima, not Socrates, and she speaks through Socrates as a god-like and unapproachable figure. Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. The main characters of this philosophy, classics story are Socrates, . These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Symposium by Plato. As he was about to end his argument, Aristophanes fell asleep, shortly before Agathon. In the Symposium, Eros is recognized both as erotic love and as a phenomenon capable of inspiring courage, valor, great deeds a… § iii. The Dialogue as a Whole: its Scope and Design. Introductory Dialogue and The Speech of Phaedrus, The Speech of Agathon and Socrates Questions Agathon, Diotima Questions Socrates and The Speech of Diotima, Alcibiades' Entrance, The Speech of Alcibiades, and Final Dialogue, Sexuality in Plato’s Symposium and Ancient Greece, Aristophanes' Influence in Contemporary Times: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Read the Study Guide for Symposium by Plato…, The Impossibility of Evil Without Ignorance and the Progression Toward Good, View Wikipedia Entries for Symposium by Plato…. Rather, the purpose of love is to give birth in beauty. This Critical Guide to Plato's Symposium fits the mold admirably. In Symposium Plato sees love as needing to transcend attachment to particular bodies and souls altogether, seeking union with eternal goodness and beauty. The Symposium of Plato. The speech seems to parody or pastiche the erotic speeches in both Plato's Symposium and Phaedrus. The same is true with Socrates. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Symposium Summary & Study Guide Description. Having been cured of his hiccups, Aristophanes gives the most original speech on love. Love is son of Poros (Resource) and Penia (Poverty), desiring beauty, which are good things, which lead to happiness. SparkNotes is brought to you by Barnes & Noble. Socrates Socrates (c. 470 B.C.–399 B.C.) The Preface: 172 A-174 A. II. The Text. This leads to the love of activities and laws, or customs, leading to the love of certain types of knowledge. At the symposium (a Greek ritual banquet that includes libations to the gods, hymns, and drinking wine), Eryximachus, a doctor, proposes that they take turns giving speeches in praise (also called eulogies) of Love, or the god Eros. He praises love with beautiful prose, but offers little new content. The Symposium Introduction + Context. The guests begin to excuse themselves, at which point Aristodemus falls asleep. Detailed Summary & Analysis 172a-173e 174a-177e 178a-180b 180c-185c 180d-188e 189a-193e 194a-198a 198b-201c 201d-204c 204d-209e 210a … He describes Love as possessing beauty and good things. Free download or read online The Symposium pdf (ePUB) book. It is the first major philosophical text on love in Western literature. He wakes up shortly before dawn, when Agathon, Aristophanes, and Socrates were still conversing. This suggestion is reinforced by the fact that Socrates alludes to all the foregoing speeches in his own speech, as if to suggest that his words could not be spoken until everyone else had said their piece. “Might makes right” is a statement that might be heard..... ? All people are pregnant, whether in body or in soul. He warns that we may be split again, if not pious and revering of the gods. There is also some discussion as to exactly what is being discussed in the Symposium. 1. Plato’s Symposium dates circa 385-370 BC. 2 pages at 400 words per page) View a FREE sample. Symposium study guide contains a biography of Plato, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The speech was a powerful . In a first section I present a detailed analysis of Diotima's doctrine, emphasizing features of it which I judge to be often overlooked. The third speech is given by a doctor, Eryximachus, who extends the idea of love beyond interpersonal relationships, claiming love is found in the coexistence of opposites, the harmony of nature. Symposium e-text contains the full text of Symposium by Plato. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Symposium and what it means. Summary Analysis It ends in the pursuit of knowledge, or the love of wisdom, which is philosophy. The prominent place the Symposium holds in our canon comes as much as a result of its literary merit as its philosophical merit. They deal with questions of: what Love is; interpersonal relationships through love; what types of love are worthy of praise; the purpose of love; and others. Print Word PDF. Aristophanes had the hiccups during Pausanias speech, suggesting that he was possibly mocking Pausanias; because of the hiccups, he skips a turn. The series of speeches in praise of Love are not simply meant as beating around the bush that leads up to the main event. The later speeches in particular tend toward this broader interpretation. Plato In Depth Symposium Introduction & Analysis Of all the works of Plato the Symposium is the most perfect in form, and may be truly thought to contain more than any commentator has ever dreamed of; or, as Goethe said of one of his own writings, more than the author himself knew. He was one of Socrates’ prominent students. : Books The men include the philosopher Socrates, the general and political figure Alcibiades, and the comic playwright Aristophanes. The Framework of the Dialogue. Socrates and Diotima. Alcibiades’ speech was met with laughter, even though it made important points through the exemplar of Socrates. A Macat Analysis of Plato's Symposium (Audio Download): Amazon.co.uk: Richard Ellis, Simon Ravenscroft, Macat.com, Macat International Limited. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Phaedrus” by Plato. In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates’ eulogy, though delivered with the stated intent of praising love, is not truly about love at all.Instead, Socrates claims that the typical definition of love does not exist and instead praises wisdom. 5 of Cydathenaeum.6 He had been at Agathon’s feast; and I think that in those days there was no one who was a more devoted admirer of Socrates. Humans used to have a different shape, somewhat like two human beings stuck together and there were three sexes: male, female, and androgynous (male and female). How does Plato, using integrative thinking, ultimately find a way to connect erotic love, beauty and the absolute into a unified whole? He and Diotima establish that Love is between beauty and ugliness, between mortal and immortal (a spirit), and between wisdom and ignorance. Everyone was required to make a speech, an ode to Love, the spirit. Not affiliated with Harvard College. paragraph: I. Agathon, the host of the gathering, gives the fifth speech. The Order and Connexion of the Speeches. The end goal of Love is not simply to find one’s other half. § ix. This Form is unchanging, stable, perceived by the mind rather than by the senses, and distinct from those particular things that share in its character. “No indeed,” I replied, “but the same person who told Phoenix;—he was a little fellow, who never wore any shoes, Aristodemus, of the deme. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 131 pages and is available in Paperback format. In Plato's Symposium, a dinner party was held with the discussion of love as the main topic. Diotima is describing Plato’s teaching on the Form of Beauty. In subsequent sections I examine the arguments for and against the claim that Beauty is the primary object of love, and I then do the same for the assertion that the Form of Beauty is identical with that of the Good. Those who follow his lead will not necessarily attain wisdom, but will find fulfillment in a life-long pursuit of wisdom. Analysis of Plato’s Relation to Love in Symposium The Symposium shows different popular views about love during Plato’s time. § vi. Which of these steps is crucial when doing a close reading of nonfiction?