Rhetorical Analysis : The Death Of The Mytilenians

Without being either the ones who made this law or the first to apply it after it was laid down, we applied it as one in existence...and one that will endure for all time,” (Thuc., V, 105). The Athenians see no injustice in doing simply as their nature impels them to do. In fact, the Athenians see their offer of subjugation to the Melian people as more than reasonable, “What we will demonstrate is that we are here to help our empire and that there is salvation for your city in what we are now about to say, since we hope to rule over you without trouble and let both parties benefit as you are saved,” (Thuc., V, 91). Following their belief in doing what is necessary to strengthen themselves, even at the expense of others, is what brings Athens to Melos.

Action from necessity is a constantly recurring theme in Thucydides’ The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. A sentiment used to explain the growth of the Athenian Empire which some Athenians espoused to an assembly at Sparta best quantifies necessity, “. . . we were necessarily compelled at first to advance the hegemony to where it is—especially by fear, and then by honor, and later by benefit.” (Selected Passages 1.75.3). This claim, referred to as the Athenian Thesis, is used to advance the two following implications: all states act with the motivations of fear, honor and interest and no one can condemn a state for doing so. The Athenian Thesis influences the way many of the Athenian elite structure their patterns of reasoning in both noticeable and subtle ways.

The results of one’s involvement in society’s conflicts can be devastating. The short story “Gregory” by Panos Ioannides creates a setting where the characters are involved in the 1925 revolutionary conflict between Britain and Cyprus. Consequently, the plot focuses around an executioner who has the order to kill a British captive named Gregory, who became his friend. To make matters worse, fellow soldiers inform the executioner that he must to kill Gregory or else the Headquarters will execute him for failure to obey orders. Therefore, he struggles with the decision to either please his society or stay true to his friendship with Gregory. The author emphasizes this difficulty with use of mood, stream of consciousness, foreshadowing and visual imagery. Thus, Panos Ioannides short story “Gregory” develops the idea that society’s expectations and relationships can influence one’s moral decisions and create consequences.

His cowardly act will definitely tarnish his name and left humiliation to his offspring and to the next generation of Greeks. Thus, honor would not allow him and his allies to take a step back and peacefully solve the conflicts because the highest honor can only be gained through heroism in battles.

A reading of Thucydides’, Pericles’ Funeral Oration and The Melian Dialogue uncovers both contrasting and comparable viewpoints on Athenian politics, power, aims of war, and empire. Thucydides presents two differing characteristics of Athens, one as the civilizer in Pericles’ funeral oration and the other as an tyrant in the Melian dialogue. In the funeral oration delivered by Pericles during the first year of the war, the Athenian leader emphasizes the idealized personal image of the Athenians in regard to their constitution and good character. Pericles goes on to praise the Athenian democratic institution of Athens that contributes to their cities greatness; in Pericles’s own words, “The Athenian administration favors the many instead of few… they afford equal justice to all of their differences” (112, 2.37). This quote emphasizes the good character of the Athens’ to coax and encourage the Athenians to preserve and better their great empire into the future. On the other hand, in the Melian dialogue, this notion of justice and equality is irrelevant; one, because Athens compared to Melos, is the stronger of the two and thus, is more powerful. Further, Athens, will continue to acquire absolute power and build its empire by conquering Melos and whomever else stands in its way. Through Pericles’ funeral oration and the Melian dialogue, the following conclusions/themes will demonstrate both the changing and somewhat stable nature of Athenian policy with regards to empire,

In the Aftermath of the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta, Pericles, Athens’ general and statesmen, delivered a powerfully comforting eulogy to the polis of Athens, assuring the people that their city state is in good hands, and easing the pain of all the families and relatives of the deceased. He uses several rhetorical devices throughout his speech to gain a positive emotional appeal by his audience and makes assertions in the attempt to enhance and transform the perception of him by the audience.

Pericles’ profound rhetorical skills were displayed within his Funeral Oration honoring Athenian soldiers who demonstrated extraordinary valor. Although the subject of his speech was in honor of the fallen soldiers who died gloriously defending Athens, he primarily praised Athens and everything it stood for. Within his speech, Pericles focuses on acting for the greater good of the city, which included sacrificing oneself much like the modeled sacrifice the dead had displayed through their valor. Through praising Athens and the fallen soldiers Pericles idealized the dead, showing their modeled behavior as honorable and glorious, which further appealed the sacrifice of dying for Athens. Pericles idealized motives continuously praised Athens: the dead, ancestors, and the city. Theses motives were intended to explain why Athenians should love their city and willingly sacrifice to ensure continued happiness and freedom.

In the fourth year of the Peloponnesian War, the city of Mytilene, revolts against Athens and conspires with Sparta and asks for their assistance. However, these plans for revolt are reported to Athens, who send an army against Mytilene. While under siege, Mytilene’s democratic faction gives up and decides to surrender to Athens. When the Athenian leaders first meet to decide about the fate of the Mytilene people, they decree that all the Mytilene men be put to death, while the women and children be enslaved. The following day, the Athenians decide to put all Mytilene’s to death not just the guilty. However, this time an assembly is called to persuade Athenian officials to reconsider their death penalty. During this assembly, there are two speeches given; one by Cleon and the other by Diodotus; these will be explored in detail in the following paragraphs. As I read Thucydides’ summary, the two speeches serve as contrasts, illustrating the difference between bad and good arguments. Through the following themes/conclusions that will be explored/applied in the paper, this paper argues that Diodotus, not Cleon, makes the better argument: i) Cleon uses the language of un-justice, punishment, irrationality and extreme emotions, which makes his disposition unreasonable; ii) Diodotus uses the language of rationality, justice and intellect which form the basis of a strong argument.

The king challenges the tremendous role gods play in humans’ fate by suggesting that the Greeks retreat while they still can in order to escape their seemingly inevitable deaths. He angrily exclaims, “so it must please the Father’s overweening heart / to kill the Achaeans here” (14.83-84). Agamemnon accuses the gods of being so intoxicated with power that they derive pleasure from manipulating the fates of humans. He blames the gods’ carelessness and penchant for intervening in mortals’ lives for the Greeks’ lack of success in battle. Agamemnon offers a view of competing agencies between gods and humans, in which gods always win; however, he implies that surrendering can enable the Greeks to escape their cruel fate and finally prevent the gods’ agency from prevailing. Agamemnon’s previous lamentation justifies this suggestion to retreat and reinforces his notion that there is “No shame in running, / fleeing disaster, even in pitch darkness. / [It is] Better to flee from death than feel its grip” (14.96-98). Agamemnon decides that having his agency triumph over that of the gods will prove his authority beyond a doubt. This logic leads to a shift of values: retreating now seems more enticing than achieving glory through military victory. Agamemnon expresses his desire to thwart gods’ agencies by suggesting that the Greeks retreat to avoid

The Mytileneans lacked trust in the Athenians so they started seeking support out of the alliance. They turned to the Peloponnesians for support to leave the Athenian’s. The Peloponnesians agreed but couldn’t provide much help since they were across the ocean. The Mytileneans took actions into their own hands and started revolting. Word of the revolt got the Athenians and they were not happy. They went to Mytilene and took every rebel that could be found. The oligarchic leaders of Mytilene were taken by Athenian general, Paches. The Mytileneans asked that no one be killed until they were fairly represented in count in Athens. Once at court, the speech of Cleon persuaded everyone to follow through with the death and enslavement of the Mytileneans

On page 147 of Slouching Towards Bethlehem, there is a passage that I think describes a solution to the problem of sympathy versus empathy. The passage basically states that if we see the value in ourselves, we will be able to discriminate, to love, and to remain indifferent toward others. However, if we do not come to this realization, we will hate those who cannot give to us and will only help others to improve our own image. I agree with the idea that we must come to some realization of who we are in order to reach out and help others for the sake of the good in it. I agree with this because if we do not understand who we are or how we fit into the world, then we will be insecure. This will cause us to seek ways to sure ourselves up and

Besides the fact that he was hard to hear at times, he also tapped into some ethos and logos. He quickly also identified himself as a General in the Athenian Navy giving him the validity to speak on this topic. He started off by stating that this should not even be debated right now, because the decision had already been made by Cleon and that “we should continue to punish them.” He continued to say that poleis like Sparta would see them as weak if they did not have the heart to punish the Mytilenians. He finished his speech in a dark but powerful way, saying the Mytilenians must pay in blood, time, and

Undeniably, the ancient Greek society places a heavy emphasis on values and traditions. The two texts of the “Clouds” by Aristophanes and “History of the Peloponnesian war” by Thucydides, although contextually divergent, are actually conceptually convergent. Both texts are built around the central theme of the collapse of conventional values. While the breakdown of traditional values in the “History of the Peloponnesian war” is presented in a more metaphorical and symbolical manner, the downfall of conventional values in the “Clouds” is on a more direct basis. Although both texts essentially convey across the same solemn message that the relinquishment of

Demosthenes, renowned Athenian orator and logographer, in his speech to the Athenian Assembly entitled The Third Philippic, demands resolute action against Philip of Macedon’s invasion. Demosthenes supports his demand with specific examples and rhetorical questions, as well as challenging Athenian patriotism and wisdom. He intends to vilify Philip and unify Athens in order to instigate a response to the encroaching Macedonian armies.

The book written by Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, contains two controversial debates between distinguished speakers of Athens. The two corresponding sides produce convincing arguments which can be taken as if produced as an honest opinion or out of self-interest. The two debates must be analyzed separately in order to conclude which one and which side was speaking out of honest opinion or self-interest, as well as which speakers are similar to each other in their approach to the situation.