Socrates

Robert Silverberg, the author of Socrates, wanted to show how Socrates’ life and death affected the people of Athens. All Athenians were proud of the democracy that governed their everyday living. Although this democracy was thought to be perfect and impenetratable, one event proved that it was unjust. This was the prosecution of Socrates. A man who proved himself innocent in front of 501 jurors in court nevertheless was convicted, proving that Athenian democracy wasn’t …

…he lost 360 to 141 putting him on the death penalty. At the expense of his life, he was able to prove democracy wrong. Socrates had earned himself a reputation of being a wise talker in Athens. Many people loathed him because after every conversation they had, they would be left confused. His style was to question everything. This got him to the death penalty, but even to the last day he was able prove something wrong.