Pericles Funeral Speech: Hype or Truth Several philosophers and thinkers have graced Athens but none probably have described Athens as vividly as Pericles did with his funeral speech delivered in honor of the martyrs of the Peloponnesian War. This speech was given almost a year after the Peloponnesian War started and its purpose was to inspire both the citizens and the army of Athens. In his speech Pericles describes Athens as a flawless state when compared with its contemporaries.
Pericles highlighted the achievements of Athens in almost every sphere ranging from its military prowess to its conduct of justice and equal opportunity to the most ordinary of its citizens regardless of his class or economic status. Pericles proclaims Athens as the ideal state and claims that even future generations will be in admiration of Athens grandeur and herein lies the flaw. The reality of Athens was far from that of an ideal state that Pericles proclaims in his speech. Pericles funeral speech wherein he describes the Athenian society is far removed from the ground reality.
Although it can be argued that Athens during 430 B. C. was better than some of its contemporaries it was far from an ideal state especially when one reads the Melian debate that took place between the Athenians and Melians (a colony of Sparta) during 415 B. C and The Economist from Xenophon. This paper for most part will use examples from Athenian society during the Peloponnesian War in order to better understand the intricacies of Athenian life and to dispel the hype surrounding Pericles speech.
This I shall do so by providing evidence from other thinkers and philosophers who were contemporaries of Pericles and whose view of Athenian society are in contrast with Pericles funeral speech. The debate between Athenians and the Melians stands in sharp contrast with Pericles funeral speech where he tries to portray its neighbors (especially the Spartans) as opportunists and hence enemies. He proclaims, “In proof of this it may be noticed that the Lacedaemonians do not invade our country alone, but bring with them all their confederates. (DWP, p. 58). But we see stark contrast to Pericles speech when the army of Athens arrives at Melians shores and orders them to surrender to Athens although Melians wanted to remain neutral and join neither the Spartans nor the Athenians. But the Athenian army simply dismisses the Melians request to remain independent and neutral and instead forcefully drives them out of their territory. This egotistical act of Athenians towards Melians obliterates Pericles claims of liberality.
And even further the main argument that Athenians use in conquering Melians is in irony with Pericles speech which reads as such,” And it is not as if we were the first to make this law, or to act upon it when made: we found it existing before us, and shall leave it to exist for ever after us; all we do is to make use of it, knowing that you and everybody else, having the same power as we have, would do the same as we do…. ” (DWP, p. 62). If Athens and Athenians were in fact just and fair, as Pericles claims then the latter part of the argument where they say, “and shall leave it to exist for ever after us” (DWP, p. 2) should have been done away with.
This act of transgression by Athenians against Melians establishes that Athens during Pericles times was similar to nineteenth century imperialist powers and thus in no way can be called an ideal state. An unknown author’s view of Athenian democracy helps us compare and dispel the myth that in Athens equal justice is afforded to all. Pericles in his speech states that, “If we look to the laws, they afford equal justice to all in their private differences. ” (DWP, p. 58). This although might be the case in some instances but does not hold true in every case.
This is clearly stated and understood from an unknown author’s view on Athenian democracy which states, “The same holds good for the law courts as well; they are more interested in what profit they can make than in the true ends of justice… ” (DWP, p. 65). This observation seems to be more in touch with reality than Pericles claim because people by nature are greedy and fearful. Possibly the only part of Pericles speech where Pericles seems to be in sync with reality is on the role of women in Athenian society.
From his speech one can easily infer that women was subordinated. When it comes to the subject of women he is brief and asks, “Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for good or for bad. ” (DWP, p. 60). One can easily infer that in Athens during Pericles time women’s role were restricted to household activities and were easily subjugated by men.
This is clearly demonstrated in the floor plan of a house from Olynthus found during fifth century B. C. wherein the women’s quarters were in the bottom end of the house, attached to the bathroom and kitchen. The Athenians also dominated the slaves and this is clearly evident in The Economist from Xenophon where Ischomachus explains to Socrates,”… and to ensure that the slaves should not have children without our permission. For good slaves are usually even more devoted once they have family; but good for nothing once they begin to cohabit, have extra chances to get up to mischief. ” (DWP, p. 67).
This indicates that the slaves although probably treated better in Athens than its counterparts were in no way free or afforded equality and liberty. All this stands in opposition with Pericles funeral speech that tries to paint Athens in glory. On closely observing Athenian society through other sources such as the Melian Debate or The Economist one can easily invalidate Pericles bold and overarching claims about Athenian society. Pericles funeral speech did not reflect the reality of present day Athens but instead his speech was an ideal that he hoped one day Athens will achieve.
