The Gadfly In Antigone
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Question: In Plato’s “Apology”, what does Socrates think is the role of the gadfly and why place such importance on its actions? Secondly, argue succinctly for your position that this character plays the ‘gadfly’ in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. What does this character seek to accomplish and how is it attempted?
Essay:
Disrupting the world’s status quo has been a characteristic of famous people and figures.
Scientists, civil rights leaders, and inventors have all done something to change the societal norm considerably. Philosophers belong in that group as well. The ancient greek philosopher Socrates is one of those figures remembered over time for their world-altering contributions.
In the account of Socrates’ trial and subsequent sentencing, titled …show more content…
“Apology” and written by another ancient Greek in Plato, Socrates employs his conversational style dialogue in his futile but almost sarcastic efforts to plead his innocence in the face of three charges.
It is that conversational method, now referred to as the Socratic method, that landed him in the court room. His traditional walks in the marketplace that sparked conversation between him and his unofficial students provoked not only the trading of outward thought and opinion, but inward reflection as well. Thus, Socrates acts as the catalyst for a reevaluation of one’s self, which, on a large scale, disrupted the city of Athens’ routine and unity; if individuals realize the self more than the role they play in the city, the city does not stand to benefit. That element of Socrates’ actions unsettle the city leaders, who are the ones that bring him to trial. Socrates refers to this disruption of tradition with a metaphor; “It seems to me that God has attached me to this city to perform the office of such a fly; and all day long I never cease to settle here, there, and everywhere, rousing, persuading, reproving every one of you” (Plato, 30e-31a). With himself as
2 the relentless fly and Athens as a thoroughbred horse (a comparison he makes in immediately previous lines), Socrates provokes Athens to think differently. That change, that awakening, …show more content…
is what gets Socrates sentenced to death. The fly metaphor acts as the cause for the divergence from the norm Socrates brings about. It is not necessarily the fly itself that is unique, but what the fly makes the “horse” (Athens) do; alter its being and change its ways.
In another ancient classic, “Antigone” by Sophocles, the character Antigone serves as a gadfly in her own right, while the horse is the city of Thebes.
Her rebellion against the city ruler and her own relative Creon, disobeying his orders and burying her brother Polyneices, makes her the gadfly. Antigone disrupts the rule of Creon in a very public way, just as Socrates was public in his marketplace dialogues. Polyneices was supposed to waste away at the mercy of the elements with citizens exposed to the process, but Antigone publicly disagreed in her actions.
Antigone seeks to break the stronghold Creon has over citizens and even his own family by rebelling against his command. Once Antigone kills herself and Haemon follows in her footsteps, Creon comes to feel remorse for forcing the issue to that point. Antigone’s goal of changing Creon’s ways comes to fruition; the fly officially disturbs the horse. Creon’s words toward the end of the play illustrate his change of heart: “So senseless, so insane…my crimes/my stubborn, deadly-…/My plans, my mad fanatic heart/ my son, cut off so young!/ Ai, dead, lost to the world/ not through your stupidity, no, my own” (Sophocles, 1393-1399). His regret
about forcing Antigone to the breaking point and his pain from losing his son Haemon are apparent.
Both deaths and Creon’s heartbreak are direct results of his order to not bury Polyneices. The horse has ultimately acknowledged the fly.
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Each example, Socrates and Antigone as stinging gadflies, proves to disturb their respective horses that are Athens and Creon’s stubborn rule. Both instances provide clear cause and effect paths, proving small figures can provoke change in something so much bigger than themselves, highlighting the importance of ‘gadflies.’
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Works Cited
Plato. Translated by Tredennick, Hugh. "Apology." The Last Days of Socrates. London:
Penguin, 2003. 30e-31a. Print.
Sophocles. Translated by Fagles, Robert. "Antigone." The Three Theban Plays.
Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1984. 1393-1399. Print.
Question: In Plato’s “Apology”, what does Socrates think is the role of the gadfly and why place such importance on its actions? Secondly, argue succinctly for your position that this character plays the ‘gadfly’ in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. What does this character seek to accomplish and how is it attempted?
Essay:
Disrupting the world’s status quo has been a characteristic of famous people and figures.
Scientists, civil rights leaders, and inventors have all done something to change the societal norm considerably. Philosophers belong in that group as well. The ancient greek philosopher Socrates is one of those figures remembered over time for their world-altering contributions.
In the account of Socrates’ trial and subsequent sentencing, titled …show more content…
“Apology” and written by another ancient Greek in Plato, Socrates employs his conversational style dialogue in his futile but almost sarcastic efforts to plead his innocence in the face of three charges.
It is that conversational method, now referred to as the Socratic method, that landed him in the court room. His traditional walks in the marketplace that sparked conversation between him and his unofficial students provoked not only the trading of outward thought and opinion, but inward reflection as well. Thus, Socrates acts as the catalyst for a reevaluation of one’s self, which, on a large scale, disrupted the city of Athens’ routine and unity; if individuals realize the self more than the role they play in the city, the city does not stand to benefit. That element of Socrates’ actions unsettle the city leaders, who are the ones that bring him to trial. Socrates refers to this disruption of tradition with a metaphor; “It seems to me that God has attached me to this city to perform the office of such a fly; and all day long I never cease to settle here, there, and everywhere, rousing, persuading, reproving every one of you” (Plato, 30e-31a). With himself as
2 the relentless fly and Athens as a thoroughbred horse (a comparison he makes in immediately previous lines), Socrates provokes Athens to think differently. That change, that awakening, …show more content…
is what gets Socrates sentenced to death. The fly metaphor acts as the cause for the divergence from the norm Socrates brings about. It is not necessarily the fly itself that is unique, but what the fly makes the “horse” (Athens) do; alter its being and change its ways.
In another ancient classic, “Antigone” by Sophocles, the character Antigone serves as a gadfly in her own right, while the horse is the city of Thebes.
Her rebellion against the city ruler and her own relative Creon, disobeying his orders and burying her brother Polyneices, makes her the gadfly. Antigone disrupts the rule of Creon in a very public way, just as Socrates was public in his marketplace dialogues. Polyneices was supposed to waste away at the mercy of the elements with citizens exposed to the process, but Antigone publicly disagreed in her actions.
Antigone seeks to break the stronghold Creon has over citizens and even his own family by rebelling against his command. Once Antigone kills herself and Haemon follows in her footsteps, Creon comes to feel remorse for forcing the issue to that point. Antigone’s goal of changing Creon’s ways comes to fruition; the fly officially disturbs the horse. Creon’s words toward the end of the play illustrate his change of heart: “So senseless, so insane…my crimes/my stubborn, deadly-…/My plans, my mad fanatic heart/ my son, cut off so young!/ Ai, dead, lost to the world/ not through your stupidity, no, my own” (Sophocles, 1393-1399). His regret
about forcing Antigone to the breaking point and his pain from losing his son Haemon are apparent.
Both deaths and Creon’s heartbreak are direct results of his order to not bury Polyneices. The horse has ultimately acknowledged the fly.
3
Each example, Socrates and Antigone as stinging gadflies, proves to disturb their respective horses that are Athens and Creon’s stubborn rule. Both instances provide clear cause and effect paths, proving small figures can provoke change in something so much bigger than themselves, highlighting the importance of ‘gadflies.’
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
4
Works Cited
Plato. Translated by Tredennick, Hugh. "Apology." The Last Days of Socrates. London:
Penguin, 2003. 30e-31a. Print.
Sophocles. Translated by Fagles, Robert. "Antigone." The Three Theban Plays.
Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1984. 1393-1399. Print.