When I first began reading, I quickly became annoyed by how much Pericles was talking about Greece and not the hundreds of warriors who had just passed away for it. However, it wasn't too long after the Athenian leader finally did mentioned the bravery of his fallen brothers, when I found myself annoyed with him all over again!
One passage that had me particularly irked, was this one: "Yet you who are still of an age to beget children must bear in the hope of having others in their stead; not only will they help you to forget those whom you have lost, but will be to the state at once a reinforcement and a security . . . " (Thucydides, 5). Excuse me, sir? You really think a parent is just going to forget about their own child after they have a new kid to replace the old one? Is that really how you think this works?
You are all going to despise me, but I got such Zuko vs Ozai vibes from this passage. Zuko was essentially treated as a dead man once he was banished and the heartless Fire Lord had absolutely no problem replacing his disgraced heir with his daughter, Azula.
As if this isn't bad enough, a few lines before, Thucydides recounts how Pericles "comforted" the elderly couples who could no longer have children. This man literally said, that the old folks will be praised for the rest of their short lives on account of the bravery of their dead kid. Come again, please?
While they were both highly infuriating to read, these two passages really did show me just how much the Greeks valued their nation and it's honor above all else. If anyone were to give a eulogy such as this in the U.S.A. today, the speaker would be in for some very harsh treatment. However, for the Greeks, this type of death speech was seen as a worthy and deserving farewell address.
I suppose I'm just really glad that our culture today values actual people over somebody's personal honor. If we still had the same set of beliefs as the ancient Greeks, I feel like we would all be walking around shouting for our lost honor like Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Edit - Replied to Ian Blair and Rachael Gregson.
One passage that had me particularly irked, was this one: "Yet you who are still of an age to beget children must bear in the hope of having others in their stead; not only will they help you to forget those whom you have lost, but will be to the state at once a reinforcement and a security . . . " (Thucydides, 5). Excuse me, sir? You really think a parent is just going to forget about their own child after they have a new kid to replace the old one? Is that really how you think this works?
You are all going to despise me, but I got such Zuko vs Ozai vibes from this passage. Zuko was essentially treated as a dead man once he was banished and the heartless Fire Lord had absolutely no problem replacing his disgraced heir with his daughter, Azula.
As if this isn't bad enough, a few lines before, Thucydides recounts how Pericles "comforted" the elderly couples who could no longer have children. This man literally said, that the old folks will be praised for the rest of their short lives on account of the bravery of their dead kid. Come again, please?
While they were both highly infuriating to read, these two passages really did show me just how much the Greeks valued their nation and it's honor above all else. If anyone were to give a eulogy such as this in the U.S.A. today, the speaker would be in for some very harsh treatment. However, for the Greeks, this type of death speech was seen as a worthy and deserving farewell address.
I suppose I'm just really glad that our culture today values actual people over somebody's personal honor. If we still had the same set of beliefs as the ancient Greeks, I feel like we would all be walking around shouting for our lost honor like Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Edit - Replied to Ian Blair and Rachael Gregson.
I personally loved the Zuko versus Ozai reference, and this observation caused me to have to reread the passage because I saw Pericles' speech in an entirely new way, well done! I honestly feel like the U.S. today could value our veterans a bit more due to the history of veterans being downcast in society, mainly because of the Vietnam War. Is there any character in Greek mythology that you would compare to Zuko in particular?
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree the speech was quite frank and rude. I also think Pericles probably called them short lived because their average life span was 30 years. But in his defense, Pericles does say that he hates these speeches and finds they never please everyone and take a lot of money/time; that they are tradition but he believes the acts the men do should be honorable in the actions themselves rather than when restated in some eulogy, simply to be judged by the speaker.
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacular reference, Hailey! I definitely agree with your dissent of the abruptness and apparent disinterest in the dead peoples' lives. I will say this, however: when sermons are given at funerals, pastors will oftentimes point to Jesus as a guiding light in dark times. If they are able to take things day by day with Jesus, they can feel like they are doing something to regain the peace of God. I feel like it is much the same in Athens; the nationalism displayed is the hope that people can cling onto.
ReplyDeleteHailey, I completely agree with you. Pericles's speech would not go over well in America's current society at all. I'm tempted to think about young couples who experience miscarriage and stillbirth. How heartless would it be to simply say "Oh well, you can always make more later!" But I suppose it could also be likened to having a son die in the Armed Forces, as there is such honor associated with that! Still uncool on Pericles's part though!
ReplyDelete