That is the historian, usually recorded as the second known historian (in the west) after Herodotus. In his introduction to Pericles' Funeral Oration, the historian Thucydides explains the time-honored practice of providing public funerals to Athenian soldiers killed in battle: "The dead are laid in the public sepulchre, maintained for those who fall in war, in the most beautiful suburb of the city Their glorious sacrifice in battle has earned them fame and a heroic reputation that will resound across the world. He acknowledges that this might be a disadvantage in war, since a foreigner who is welcomed might turn out to be a spy who reveals the city's weaknesses to enemies. A funeral oration is a lengthy speech given at a funeral. Pericles establishes the immensity of the task before him. burial. Thus, the divide creates a call to action that prioritizes the Declaration as the document that must be protected in order to save the country. He recognizes that Athens's more warlike neighbors think the Athenians weak because they enjoy life. Pericles delivered this speech to the survivors of the fallen who lost their lives fighting in the Peloponnesian War. This isn't to say that Pericles as he pointed out, a simple boast. translation and not an intentional affect on Pericles or Thucydides' . of their easygoing, pleasure centered lifestyle, they maintain the One Pericles (Greek: ; ca. Though the exact words of Pericles' famous and influential Funeral Oration during the Autumn of 430 B.C are unknown, it's purpose, meaning, and eloquence was captured by his good friend Thucydides. More than this, Athenian government is defined by its favoring of the needs of the many, the Athenian citizens, rather than just the privileged elite. 2023. They, who dwelt nowhere but here, passed this land down to us, generation by generation, kept free by their valor (Pericles, 19-20). By forming a sharp distinction between just two groups, the dead and the living, Pericles emphasizes that the surviving citizens must continue to fight for their city. The reader who does not know the speech may think that he has never heard it. Course Hero, "Funeral Oration Study Guide," July 18, 2019, accessed March 4, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Funeral-Oration/. Pericles' Funeral Oration stands as the great example of epideictic oratory, particularly the form, which is known to the Greeks as 'epitaphios logos'. audience, but the honor it gave to the dead Athenian soldiers. Unusual opening and the reason Pericles chose to begin this way. . The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text. Because of the greatness of our city the fruits of the whole earth flow in upon us; so that we enjoy the goods of other countries as freely as our own. Found a perfect sample but need a unique one? On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered this speech amongst the American Civil War as a way to bring honor to those who died during the Battle of . Any deadline. His final word on the topic was not, Pericles suggests that serving the public good is the most important and honorable action a person can take. Funeral Oration can be compared to several more modern speeches, most Both of them heavily Pericles is likely also thinking of how to encourage Athenians to fight on. "In short, I say that as a city we are the which has caused your mourning, and to whom life has been so exactly He further says that democracy guarantees privacy and equal justice for all. dramatism, rather he embraces it fully as would be expected of him. Pericles contends that the unique nature of Athenian culture stems from its bold constitution. Though usually a mournful or lamenting speech, Pericles broke These protectors will live on in spirit, acting as the threads that hold together the very fabric of Athens. Finally This establishes a theme Pericles carries forward into the rest of the speech: the greatness of Athens lies in its democracy and the virtues of citizenship, exemplified by the collective sacrifice of Athenian soldiers. Those who come short in other ways have blotted out the evil with the good, and have benefited the state more by their public services than they have injured her by their private actions. Lincoln uses the same technique in his writing, constructing a relationship between the mortal and immortal in his final exclamation: these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. both of whom died of the plague shortly before Pericles did. Pericles was chosen to give the "Funeral Oration" by the city of Athens as he was a leading citizen of Athens, as he was an orator and general during the Golden Age. this point Pericles concludes, for the most part, his glorification "Funeral Oration Study Guide." was called for by each situation" (Thucydides 1.22). 4 0 obj habits proves. (Par. Pericles says that he has spoken of the greatness of Athens in order to praise the dead soldiers, who chose to fight and die for their city-state. die as heroes, and should be honored for it. After appealing to his own Ethos, or his the appeal to his own bona fides, Pericles begins by honoring Athenian ancestors who laid the foundation for such a great city and empire. . Pericles' Funeral Oration and America: What Athens and America have in common . -ethos: talks about superior military + open city to world -logos: speaks of democracy, example about Lacedaemanians -pathos: in ending he appeals to different types of losses and each person's emotions, he had passion + confidence in people The Parthenon, a great temple built under Perikles' supervision in the fifth century B.C., represented the virtues the politician celebrated in his "Funeral Oration." Since it was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the temple symbolized Athenian wealth, power, greatness, and elevated culture. In that same ceremony, the longest prayer was given by Edward Everett, who began by describing the Athenian example . By him using an ethical appeal he is appealing to his wife's morals. At the appropriate time, Pericles proceeds from the sepulcher to an elevated platform to deliver his eulogy. All Spartans and the indulgent Persian Empire. Perhaps most interesting is the effect this kind of analysis has on a reader of presidential documents: after conducting one close reading of the address with the Greek epitaphios logos in mind, numerous links between the two become evident, as well as connections with speeches of other presidents. Pericles believes that every decision does not have to be made out of selfishness. He is proud of Athens's openness. Pericles expands on his earlier point about Athenian democracy to establish that it is not just a system of government; it is the whole way of life for Athenians. Pericles' Funeral Oration by Philipp Foltz (1852). Pericles continues to highlight the equality of all citizens before justice (free citizens, it is understood) and the extension of these principles to foreign policy as well as the opening of the city to foreigners. for, and won the city they lived in. Aristotle another famous philosopher developed the three rhetorical proofs that are still frequently used tod Though many Athenians were training in public speaking and oration, City-State of Athens. Athens as a general. Pericles thus sums up one of his main themes: that Athens's strength lies in the collective effort and virtue of its citizens. At the end of the first year of the war, the Athenians, as was their custom, gathered for a ceremony to honor and remember the fallen. many emergencies, and graced by so happy a versatility, as the audience. Pericles' "Funeral Oration" and also Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" were both spoken at a public service for those who had been killed in the war. And that this is no mere boast thrown out for the occasion, He says that Athens's democracy ensures justice for all its citizens but also encourages excellence in individuals. Moral virtue, earthly reward, and conduct as a citizen are all directly linked. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> invoke a deep sense of sorrow while simultaneously setting up Pericles refers to Athenians' value of beauty and elegance and to their tradition of discussion and debate. According to Thomas Cahill and other experts, this modest beginning inevitably reminds us of Lincoln's words at Gettysburg: We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. Pericles' Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War (Book 2.34-46) This famous speech was given by the Athenian leader Pericles after the first battles of the Peloponnesian war. What made Pericles's speech remarkable was its emotive and bonding appeal to the greatness of ancient Athens and the Greek people. Thucydides, one of the most important Greek writers of the period during which the Parthenon was constructed, is the author of a history of the war between Athens and Sparta (the so-called Peloponnesian War, 431-404 BCE). After the bodies were laid into the earth a man was chosen by the state to deliver a eulogy, one of approved wisdom and eminent reputation. The man chosen at the end of the first year of the war was Pericles, son of Xanthippus, an Athenian soldier and politician who fought in the Persian Wars. Speeches such as Pericles' Funeral Oration and Ronald Reagan's Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger have been influenced by the same ideas and structures that created a lasting effect on their audiences. Persuasion occurs by means of three "proofs": ethos (the character projected . This is where you can use pathos to great effect. In his eulogy, Pericles strives to rally the spirits of his countrymen by contrasting Athenian enlightenment with the narrow militaristic ethos of its enemies. This is a different message than Pericles; Lincoln does not appeal to the human desire for glory, but nevertheless tries to accomplish the same goal. Pericles begins his oration by setting out the difficulty of his task: to please those in the audience who were close to the dead with tales of glory and honor without dismissing the citizens of Athens, who Pericles claims only want to hear praise of the dead so long as they can feel satisfied that they are equally great, (II.35). hoplite ethos even among Athenians of the lower classes. Some may hear inaccuracies while others may be filled with resentment and envy. fell during Athens' many wars and campaigns against other countries. Pericles further extols the bravery of the soldiers by stating that they fled only from dishonor. Published: 08 April 2022. Parents find joy in honor, especially in old age; brothers take pride in their fallen heroes, and widows Pericles instructs to find glory and excellence in being gossiped about infrequently, whether for good or for evil. He does not before death. And citizens who give their lives, despite their personal flaws, are nevertheless heroes: For there is justice in the claim that steadfastness in his countrys battles should be as a cloak to cover a mans other imperfections; since the good action has blotted out the bad, and his merit as a citizen more than outweighed his demerits as an individualThus choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face, and after one brief moment, while at the summit of their fortune, left behind them not their fear, but their glory(2.42 [3-4]). And in the climax of the speech Pericles links the greatness of the city with the deceased heroes, and expresses the inevitable conclusion that happiness is based on freedom, and freedom on courage. Pericles In any case, the funeral oration of Pericles perfectly characterizes the moment and the spirit of that Athens, which he identifies as the land of the free and the home of the brave (like the American home of the brave ) that, after his death at the the following year, it would never regain its splendor. Pericles frames the bravery of the Athenians as a deliberate choice. Part of the Athenian identity is this vibrant cultural mix, which is as familiar to them as the traditional culture of Athens. Statue of ancient Athens statesman Pericles. The phrase that nation reminds the listener or reader of the beginning of the address: this nation is the one founded on the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution, as Lincoln proposes earlier. On the other hand, the authorship of the funeral oration is not clear. The impact is not always obvious because the content of these American documents often sets a precedent, but subtle links to the Greco-Roman writing style can have a large effect on the message a president sends to his audience or reader. I should have preferred that the reputation of many would not have been imperiled on the eloquence or want of eloquence of one. reading Pericles' speech, it is crucial that one understands who 144 Words1 Page. Later in the Funeral Oration (2.39) Pericles explicitly contrasts the. Like "Time is the wisest counselor of all" Pericles . Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. With its structural incorporation of remarks on prognoi and arete, that is, restraint in expression and use of antitheses, Pericles epitaphios logos serves as a model for Abraham Lincoln, allowing him to utilize his Gettysburg Address as a means to convey the paramount importance of the Declaration of Independence and its principle of universal equality. The best citizens are those who have exerted themselves to the greatest extent in Athens's armed struggles. Both men talk about very grave subjects: honoring men and women lost . Pericles' Funeral Oration was recorded, in an edited version, by Thucydides in book two of his History of the Peloponnesian War.The speech was delivered at the end of the first year of the war with Sparta - around 430 BC. Logos (which will be the main focus of this critique) can likely be praise from Pericles' audience, not simply because of his Athenian Athenian statesmen were In addition, he ties all of his Antony: " , , , lend me your ears. drunkards, accidental fall victims, and executed criminals. He suggests that the war heroes have earned what he calls "the noblest of all tombs." At both the beginning and end of his Funeral Oration, Pericles states very clearly that the heroic and valiant deeds of the soldiers being buried at public expense are far more important than any words of praise from orators and politicians or any physical monuments and inscriptions. focuses on making students speech and writing compelling, pleasing and persuasive. occasion like the present. Pericles was, and what he meant to Athens. The Athenian youth had gone off to fight the . Funeral Oration was an annual event given to commemorate all of those Pericless eulogy is unlike any other it is a praise of Athenian greatness because in order to honor the valorous dead Pericles must first justify the Athenian empire and the cause of the war. He talks about how the Athenians are He goes on to praise the bravery of Athenians who choose to fight, having fully considered their decision. Finally, Pericles holds authority and credibility in Even though the focus of his letter is to explain to her as to why he is choosing to serve and die, Ballou also states how much he loves his wife. As such, he praises Athens distinctive character and the virtues they uphold, as well as its democratic system of governance. Therefore, Pericles offers comfort, not condolence, to the grieving families, for their children died for a most honorable and noble cause. Wow! weight given the current war against the Peloponnesians and Pericles' the exact words of Pericles' famous and influential Funeral Oration passed. (Par. Pericles' Funeral Oration. To Pericles, it is precisely this, that renders their supremacy over rival poleis. Therefore, the words of the epitaphios logos shape the funeral oration into a celebration of the men who have died as well as the cause of their fight. % This article was originally published in La Brjula Verde.
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