Phaedo Summary
- Plato
Literal Comprehension
Phaedo is a story written by Plato in dialogue form. Phaedo and Echecrates are talking to each other. Echecrates is asking about the last moments of Socrates with Phaedo. Phaedo is talking to him about the feeling he had when Socrates was given the death penalty.
According to Phaedo, when Socrates was given the death penalty, almost all his followers went sad with this event. They cried with extreme sorrow sitting around Socrates. But he looked so happy that he didn't show any sign of unhappiness in his journey to the next world. Rather he advised all his followers not to be sad and not to weep for his death. He told his followers that everyone has to face death fearlessly. Ultimately, he came to bid good bye to his people. Though his children and wife wept bitterly, it didn't have any effect on him. He convinced others about his pleasant life in the next world. Phaedo was impressed so much that he felt quite pleased to tell about it to others.
Interpretation
The story 'Phaedo' by Plato presents us the fact that death is unavoidable and it is to be faced fearlessly. In other words, the man who is afraid of death dies many times but he who doesn't die once. By presenting the story of Socrates' life story, it inspires the people to die for the sake of truth. Truth is so powerful that we are to be ready to sacrifice everything for its sake. That's why; the story is successful enough to teach the people that died for the noble purpose is better than the life of cowardice.
Critical Thinking
This story seems to be impressive in terms of encouraging the people to follow the path of truth and having its moral theme. But in many respects, the story doesn't seem to be believable, since now day’s people are living in the world of falsity. They are enjoying their time in it. So this kind of truth as stated in the story is not very pleasant to them. In such a situation, it is too difficult to find the people who are ready to die for the sake of truth. In other words, life is of so much value to them that they can't accept anything at the cost of their life. We may find some people only like Socrates and Gandhi.
Assimilation
As I went through the story, it reminded me of an old man from my village. He used to live with his two sons. Because of his faith in truth and his power to judge things, he had made an image throughout the village that everyone used to respect him a lot. But finally, he ended his life due to a family quarrel. But still, people remember him for his conviction to truth and justice as Socrates had.