Pericles is a popular, famous and a prominent Athenian leader in the history of classical Greece. Pericles made numerous writings on the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War on the citizens of Athens. The significant influence of Pericles on Athenian society earned him the name “the first citizen of Athens.”  In this paper, I will argue that the writings of Pericles had effects on the lives of Greeks shaping the societal relations and way of living. In exploring my thesis statement, I will focus on the effects along foreign interactions, honor for the dead and democracy.

Description

Pericles conveys his renowned funeral oration amid the Peloponnesian War. This war was begun by Greece against Sparta as a preemptive strike against submitting to requests made by Sparta. The discourse was given amid the winter of 431 BC. The discourse was conveyed by Pericles to his kindred Athenians after the first skirmish of the war. The individuals who went to the funeral were there to respect the dead, and they were involved relatives and the individuals who had fought in the war with their fallen siblings. Athenians were baffled at the time of the war as they felt their pioneers had dragged them into a war which brought about a misfortune of their homes, lives and assets. Pericles conveyed the discourse both as custom furthermore to stir the spirits of his kindred Athenians.

Athenian Democracy

Pericles endeavored to raise the spirits of the Athenians by expressing the courses in which Athens was not quite the same as Sparta and different nations which did not have democracy. Pericles states in his discourse that all men are equivalent according to the law in Athens. Both the rich man and the poor man would face rise to equity in Athens courts. By putting forth this expression, Pericles is giving the Athenians a reason to continue battling for their space. Pericles does this by demonstrating to the Athenians the democracy they would lose in the event that they lost the fight and needed to submit to Sparta or whatever possible nation.

Pericles likewise lauds the freedoms that Athenians have in correlation to different nations in light of their majority rule government. Athenians have the freedom to do however they see fit the investigation of the legislature. The individual Athenians don’t need to control their neighbor or watch their neighbor nearly as they have the freedom to live their lives. Pericles additionally recognizes that this kind of freedom and equity may have been an impediment to different nations. However for Greece this openness and correspondence permit the Athenians to flourish and have a cutting edge society which keeps on making advances in correlation to its neighboring nations.

Foreign Interactions

Nevertheless Pericles was not totally against foreign nations. Pericles likewise expressed that Athenians were interested in foreigners and did not bar them from their property and access to their land. Pericles contended that the openness of Athenians likewise lied in the obligation to spread their fair perspectives and goals to these different nations. Then interactions happen as foreigners see the route in which democracy is working they may take these thoughts again to their country. Thus, openness prompts the spread of democracy everywhere throughout the globe. The openness would further the reason for Athens as the pioneer in majority rule intuition and legislation.

The motivation behind Pericles gloating about Athenians and their democracy was to provide for them a reason to continue battling for. While they are at the funeral encompassed by death Pericles takes this chance to life up the Athenians and to reveal to them why their kindred siblings surrendered their lives. While at a glance the discourse looks as though it is a piece of the custom, Pericles’ oration fills a shrouded need. By including discourse of why Athenians were better than other in both their characteristics and method for government Pericles endeavored to provide for them the trust required to thrashing the adversary.

Honoring the Dead

While honoring the dead Pericles adulates particularly the Athenians that still live and in addition the individuals who gave their lives. Pericles first acclaims the traditions of giving honor to the dead through the funeral as he states that the general population can grieve together. Pericles then happens to acclaim the accomplishments of Athenians amid times of war. This filled the need of raising the Athenians spirits as well as providing for them the certainty to keep on battling and accept that they will win the war. Pericles acclaims the valiance of the predecessors, the men who passed on and the individuals who keep on battling in the war. Pericles brags about the city of Athens as well as the individuals who live there.

Pericles accepts that the commend he offers to his kindred natives is because of the majority rule government. Pericles states that democracy has made subjects which can be autonomous and activity their free will. This freedom has made better residents who are capable than battle both for their nation additionally for their freedom. Alongside this autonomy comes incredible obligation to secure this freedom through ensuring democracy. Pericles makes this connection to contend to those at the funeral that they have to keep battling to safeguard their democracy, freedom and freedom from the attack of foreign nations.

Pericles and the People

The discourse ought to have been required to be a solemn reflection on the misfortune of life. However, Pericles took this chance to acclaim the life which these fallen Athenians had existed and battled to safeguard. By giving the Athenians a more prominent reason than themselves, he offered wonderfulness to the individuals who died and the individuals who keep on battling. As the proceeding with fights would be pivotal to winning the war Pericles couldn’t permit his kindred natives to be dispirited. By loving the individuals who passed away, Pericles gave the individuals who were carrying on a model to turn toward and copy. Pericles urged those as of now living to not permit their demise to have been futile. Pericles needs those Athenians who live to raise up Athens and their popularity based goals. Pericles state of mind towards life and demise as an Athenian resident was to protect the freedoms that they have created through the establishment of democracy.

Conclusion

From the topic, it is evident that Pericles deeds had effects on the lives of Athenians shaping their understanding of democracy and even going a step to show them what it would be like to miss democracy in their country. Further, he introduces the art of honoring the dead in funerals by claiming that individuals can always mourn together. Pericles also reconstructed the manner in which the Athenians related with the foreigners in a bid to ensuring that the citizens understood democracy and benefited from it.