In this perhaps quite long piece of epideictic, or ceremonial, oratory, Pericles seems to utilize pathos as he speaks to the people about the death of those they have loved. As Eli noted in his post, the kairos involved in this selection of a time and place and setting is prime: these people are feeling irrational. They're also really vulnerable because of this, which can go either way: vulnerable to feel like Athens has unjustly taken away the lives of those they loved, or vulnerable to feel like Athens is a city above all others and deserving of every ounce of courage they can muster from their spouse, parent, child, and dog. Yet after the emotions subside, they will also have to remember this speech in a manner that will continue to elevate and maintain their high opinion of Athens.
Pericles tactfully identifies the decorum of such a situation, where his audience and setting and situation are at a current state of irrationality, but will regress to a rational viewpoint as time separates the audience from the recent deaths of their loved ones. With prudence he brings up examples where Athens is simultaneously the greatest and the most unique: politically, socially, academically, etc. You name it, they've got it, and they had it first and best. By bringing up the grandness of their home, Pericles is simultaneously fortifying the logic behind their loved ones dying for such a place, as well as further inspiring them through emotion and rationale to continue loving and fighting for Athens. He praises the dead, along with those who are continuously willing to die for their home. The men fueling the wars of Athens will not see a shortage anytime soon.
| Riding to your death can be an emotional experience; better make it appeal to your logic, too. "Forth! Down fear of darkness!...Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered!...Ride now... Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death!" |
I think that most of the people that fear death fear, like you said, dying in vain. Maybe they don't recognize it, thinking they fear death itself, but everyone's had those moments where they wonder if they would be the hero that died in battle.
ReplyDeleteI think its interesting that you seek out Pericles' intentions in his speech. That could be argued up and down regarding what he was truly trying to say. Was he honestly just trying to lift the spirits of the loved ones of the fallen? Or was he truly trying to keep them fighting. In my eyes it is hard to say for sure but a good point regardless.
ReplyDeleteSo, when you say that Pericles is bringing the audience into a rational mode, do you mean that in the same way that you meant it into the caption of your picture?It is true, though, especially when he talks about how the children will be supported by the state. (Athens had pension for soldiers' families! Who knew?) He really does masterfully use an array of appeals.
ReplyDelete