God Of Love In Agathon's Symposium

Agathon is the host of the party of which the entirety of the setting of the Symposium takes place. The party is being held to honor his victory in the drama competition that occurred the day prior. When it is Agathon’s turn to speak, he starts his speech by pointing out: “All the previous speakers seem to me have dwelt upon the happiness of humanity in being endowed by the god himself; no one has said what sort of being he is who has conferred these gifts.” (Symposium, lines 194e). Here Agathon is referring to the facts that the previous discussed the benefits humanity has gained from Love, but none of them have discussed what the god of Love is like himself. Agathon goes on the discuss the very nature and virtues of god of Love. He starts
off by saying Love is the happiest of the Gods because he is the best and most beautiful amongst them. He cites that this is true because unlike what Phaedrus claims earlier in his speech that Love is the oldest of the gods, Agathon states Love is in fact the youngest (Symposium, sections 195a). Agathon further explains that “It is the nature of Love to hate old age, and not come even within long range of it. His whole life is spent in the company of the young…” (Symposium, section 195b). He asserts that Love is both the youngest and is always youthful, and that in his presence peace and prosperity has reigned in the heavens. Conflicts that occurred before in heaven, if they were committed at all, were done out of necessity and not Love, and could not have occurred if Love was present (Symposium, section 195c). Furthermore, Agathon suggest that because Love is young he is also sensitive. He settles only in the souls of the soft characters who he favors, while he passes on hard characters (Symposium, sect 195e).