Skip to main content

They Served Their Purpose - Clabo

 I had two completely mixed feelings about this passage. One views it as being very nationalistic and inspiring of the Athenian people. The other, however, seems just makes me feel as if "Pericles" is using this as more of a speech to draw together the force of the Athenian people instead of honoring the fallen as the typical funeral procession does. Although I know that funeral ceremonies were celebrated very differently back then, something about its focus pertaining more to that of the nation than to the fallen soldiers. I can also see and respect the importance of attempting to focus the Athenian peoples' energy on the war. By gathering their efforts and energy to face the enemy, there would hopefully be less funeral processions in the future. 

One thing that also bothered me was the fact that an individual Athenian's value was basically determined by how much one could do for the city. I guess that is just because now-and-days we place so much importance on the individual that it makes it somewhat difficult to imagine what that way of life would be like.

Does anyone have any similar thoughts?

P.S. I commented on Caroline Tucker's and Abigale Bell's posts.

Comments

  1. Lily CaswellSeptember 14, 2020 at 7:44 PM

    I definitely agree, Clabo. I mean, who talks about drawing people together at a funeral, especially on a war where more people will die? Also, the individual’s value is based on how much they did for the city kind of bothered me too. I mean, it is sometimes true that “there’s trouble for all when there’s trouble for one.” (Les Miserables) But at the same time, so much of today’s society places importance on the one person rather than what they do for the city.

    ReplyDelete
  2. abbieheddenSeptember 14, 2020 at 8:34 PM

    Clabo, I get what you're saying. It's weird to see a culture that's so dedicated to nationalism and forsakes individualism, especially when our own culture emphasizes the individual so strongly! It makes me rethink my political priorities, knowing that individualism isn't the only way to function.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jackson RiddleSeptember 14, 2020 at 10:50 PM

    I agree that his approach on honoring and referencing the dead seemed to be in the background compared to drawing the people together. I can somewhat understand the generality of Pericles' speech, given the consideration that there were probably very, very many of these "funerals" during that time; he may have felt that he would simply be repeating other speakers.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aristotle Might Not Like Me...Or Jesus//Haylee Lynd

      Aristotle says that the man who does not get angry at the things he should be angry at "is thought unlikely to defend himself; and to endure being insulted and put up with insult to one's friends is slavish" (Aristotle 41). While he states that passivity is preferred to excessive anger, he still gives great criticism to it.  In contrast to Aristotle, the man who Christians believe to be the most just is Jesus who states in Matthew 5:39-40, "...do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well." Essentially, arguing that one is not to respond in anger when insulted or hurt, to not defend one's self. Most individual's are unable to achieve this. Our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, especially in physical cases. However, Christians strive to be like Jesus in this way. I would also argue that it is a very admirable wa...
2 comments
Read more

Oedipus’ Children/Siblings—Lily Caswell

Ok, so Oedipus is a bit of a train wreck to say the least. I love the fact that even after Oedipus found out about his less-than-appealing relationship with his mother, he still tried to look after his children/siblings. After he gouged his eyes out, his children came to him at which point Oedipus talked about how that when they were old enough to marry, no one would want them due to them being products of incest. He said for the people not to condemn them based on what their father had done. Even after he knew what he had done and what his children were, he still wanted the best for them. I commented on Logan’s and Ian’s posts.
3 comments
Read more

Not a Hallmark.. NOT A HALLMARK - Clabo

I completely forgot how tragic the relationship between Dido and Aeneas was. The thought that Venus originally caused Dido to fall in love with Aeneas through Cupid for no other reason than to just provide Aeneas and his troops' safety is so aggravating. Venus used Dido and her resources at the ultimate and unfortunate expense of her life. She did not naturally fall in love with him, and she wasn't supposed to in the first place. Everyone knows that Aeneas and the Trojans have to make it to Italy to make their new city/empire, and this most assuredly means that they would not be able to stay in Carthage.  I also think that Juno is to blame for a lot of it, however, because the caused her and Aeneas to end up alone in a cave during a storm. You would think that if Juno cared so much for Carthage that she would not have caused/helped cause the death of the city's queen. This was just overall very unfortunate in all aspects. What are your thoughts and opinions? P.S. I commente...
3 comments
Read more