Pericles Funeral Speech and Jefferson Declaration of Independence Essay

phratry 11, 2001, two planes crash into the World Trade Center, throng diving give away windows to their deaths, a plane crashes into the Pentagon, hijackers e realplacetaken by passengers and crash the plane into a sphere of influence in Pennsylvania. December 2003, host graves un protracted in Iraq, congratulate of Saddam Husayn. May, 2004, a web page shows terrorists cutting off the wit of Nick Berg. August 2004, over 350 children are executed by terrorists in a school in Russia. Democracy is being threatened by enigmatic zealots solely(a) over the world.The United States take over fought for Democracy as remote back as the Revolutionary War, and some(prenominal) World Wars. erst again our phalanx is being asked to make the ultimate sacrifice in the attack on body politic against these zealots.Fighting for democracy has been the cause of wars since the age of Pericles.Pericles earths that Our constitution does non seek to copy the laws of our neighbors we are an example to others, not imitators of them. During his time there was usually one ruler that had the powerfulness over conduct and death, the mass of people did not matter. In capital of Greece this was far from the case. Athens created its own government, one that was for the people, and benefited the people. Pericles said with conviction, As far as public life is concerned, we live as free men. The people of Athens had a government that supported them they were all equal in the eyes of the government. The metropolis of Athens stood by itself it needed no others to ease it. She left her gates open to all and did not concern herself with excluding foreigners. Her military stood alone. Athens never advanced into another territory with Allies she did it alone.He also marvels in the fact that Athens does not live for the fright of war. He states that they live free, that are always ready if in danger. He even goes so far to say that his enemies are halcyon with a victory over a sma ll part of the army. Pericles praises Athens for her form of government democracy because it is precisely in a democracy that citizens are encouraged to contri notwithstandinge and participate in self-rule. Democracy brings equality, merit brings public success, social and economic mobility is encouraged, and the law protects all We alone cypher the man who refuses to take part in city affairs useless, Pericles announces. And he gets in adig at Sparta by proudly pro strikeing that instead than look upon discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of implement, we believe it is an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all.Pericles encourages his maven of hearing to realize the greatness of Athens and enjoy every matter the city has to offer Further, we impart many ways to refresh the school principal from the burdens of business. We hold contests and offer sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private establishments forms a daily source of enter tainment and helps to drive away sorrow. The magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our harbor, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as familiar a high life as those of his own. What Pericles duologue to the highest degree in his speech is almost shadowy in importance by how he delivers the message. It is Pericles rhetoric that makes this speech illustrious and the model for so many others in the course of history.Through give away his speech, Pericles holds up glory as the incentive for men to rush to battle for their freedom Athens is a glorious city because of the sacrifices of previous generations of men, and this generation, too, must shoulder its burden. And while trash for your soil burn down help bring about a victory, it also has the benefit of bringing you personal glory, somewhatthing Pericles believes can be gained in no other way than by dying for your country Realize for yourself the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her day after day, work on you become her devoted lover. Then, when all her greatness breaks upon you, reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty and a keen feeling of honor in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valor, but they position it at her feet as the most glorious contribution they could offer.By this mutual offering of their lives made by them all, they apiece of them individually received that eminence which never grows old. For a sepulcher they have won not so much that tomb in which their bones are here deposited, but that noblest of shrines wherein their glory is laid up to be eternally remembered upon every creator on which deed or story shall fall for its commemoration. For heroes have the full-page earth for their tomb. Pericles speech is certainly persuasive. Its passion is based in reality. It is a powerful to see a nation mourn its war dead. In the end Periclesaccomplishes his goal to inspire a city in mass mourning for its lost warriors.Woodrow Wilson was set about with a call to arms when in 1917 he proclaimed American entrance into World War I a crusade to make the world safe for democracy.Pericles, in his funeral oration, talks of valor as being very honorable. He comments that Choosing to die resisting, kind of than to live submitting is a bold and courageous act and it deserves praise and glory. He says the soldiers fled only if from dishonor, but met danger face to face.Abraham capital of Nebraska was faced with a analogous task. The Gettysburg Address was delivered on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during dedication of the Gettysburg national Cemetery. Lincolns speech is more humble than Pericles, but in effect(p) as passionate. He is careful in not mentioning either location of the war he only speaks of the nation as a whole. outright we are engaged in a great civil war, examina tion whether the nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as the nett resting-place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. Lincoln pays tribute to not only the Union army, but the Confederate as advantageously, by saying The last men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.There are obvious parallels between Pericles and Lincolns speeches. They both set out to accomplish the same thing just in varied ways. Another famous writer and pupil with a interchangeable view of Athenian society, Sophocles, chose to voice his opinion done playwright. Specifically in his two great tragedies Oedipus the King and Antigone. Pericles and Sophocles, although coming from different ends of the spectrum (the aforementioned oratory or rhetoric and the latter fictional), both use up the i ndividual and the state in their works and come to similar conclusions with some exceptions. Pericles expresses his views in his Funeral Oration,where he boasts of the great qualities of Athens, its citizens and soldiers. Sophocles injects his thoughts and ideas into his two masterpieces, Oedipus the King and Antigone.In the following paper, I leave compare the mens ideas and views on the subject of the individual and the state. In particular, their thoughts on the importance of military excellence, honor, courage, and views on women. Both men considered loyalty in battle and involvement in public matters very important. According to Pericles, military achievements and honor make up for anything wrong one does as a citizen (for example, refusing to take part in city affairs). The Greeks obviously looked upon excellence in the military very highly. of all our neighbors, we alone consider the man who refuses to take part in city affairs as useless.For there is justice in the claim th at steadfastness in his nations battles provides a cloak to cover a mans other imperfections the computable action blots out the bad, and his merit as a citizen more than outweighs his faults as an individual (Pericles 58-59, 60). Sophocles expresses similar views on the matter in his play Antigone, Creon talks of loyalty to the state as having utter importance As I see it, whoever assumes the task, the nasty task of setting the citys course, and refuses to adopt the soundest policies but fearing someone, keeps his lips locked tight, hes utterly worthless.But whoever proves his loyalty to the state Ill appreciate that man in death as well as life (Antigone 48-49).Creon backs up his words with actions. He goes on to talk of Eteocles and Polynices, the two sons of Oedipus Eteocles impart be given a proper burial, since he went down fighting for Thebes, being loyal to his city Polynices, on the other hand, committed swindle and went against everything Creon stands for and believe s in, therefore he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an grease for the citizens to behold These are my principles. Never at my hands will the two-timer be honored above the patriot (Antigone 49). As examined, patriotism was held very highly by the Greeks, as seen in Pericless oration and Sophocless plays we again come across an intersection in both statesmens ideas, this time on the subject of courage. Pericles, in his funeral oration, talks of valor as being very honorable. He comments that Choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting (Pericles 60) is a bold and courageous act and it deserves praise and glory.He says the soldiers fled only fromdishonor, but met danger face to face (Pericles 60). Do these characteristics bring anyone we know to mind? The answer is yes, and two people come to mind Antigone and Oedipus. Sophocless diacetylmorphine (Antigone) is the ultimate example of the subject Pericles discusses. True, Antigone was not a soldier, but she went against her uncles beliefs and commands, and did what was right according to the gods. In burying her brother and then announcing her actions to the world, she fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face. Antigone questioned Creon and proudly stated she was the offender, and did not sorrow her actions. Oedipus, instead of giving in to fate, battled it for as long as he could until fate finally beat him. Although it seems that Sophocles writings parallel Pericles views on womens inferiority, certain excerpts provide a basis that Sophocles views contradict those presented in the Funeral Oration.Pericles states, if I must say anything on the subject of female excellence.Great will be your glory in not falling short of your infixed character and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for intimately or for bad (Pericles 61-62). In an excerpt from Sophocles Oedipus the King, it is seen that Oedipus gives great weight to Jocastas opinion. Oedipus compares stories with Jocasta on the death of the king. He listens to Jocastas side of the story, not putt her in a subordinate position or looking at her as inferior (Oedipus the King 23). In Summation, Pericles and Sophocles (although coming from different ends of the spectrum) both consider the individual and the state in their works and come to similar conclusions with some exceptions on the different aspects of the relationship.They both praise loyalty, involvement in state affairs, and honorable death. To note, in my research I found more expression of Sophocless views which correlate with Pericless in Antigone and not so much in Oedipus the King. All three of three of the pieces were written in times when the definition of freedom, independence, democracy were still new and not well defined in their respective societies. But still in each piece the message is similar and very clear. That message is that it is necessary and good for people to sacr ifice themselves for their beliefs and the good of their society.