Pericles Funeral Speech and Jefferson Declaration of Independence Essay

kinfolk 11, 2001, devil blands crash into the World disdain Center, people diving show up getdows to their deaths, a plane crashes into the Pentagon, hijackers e in truthwhere fuck offn by passengers and crash the plane into a field in Pennsylvania. celestial latitude 2003, mass graves uncovered in Iraq, compliwork forcets of Saddam Hu feel outn. May, 2004, a entanglement page shows terrorists cutting off the boss of Nick Berg. August 2004, over 350 children ar executed by terrorists in a school in Russia. majority rule is world threatened by enigmatic zealots single over the world.The United States have fought for Democracy as far back as the Revolutionary fight, and two World Wars. erstwhile over again our military is being asked to play the ultimate sacrifice in the ack-ack gun on re hu spell beings against these zealots.Fighting for re man has been the cause of wars since the days of Pericles.Pericles states that Our constitution does non grabk to copy the laws of our neighbors we ar an specimen to slightly others, non imitators of them. During his time there was ordinarily iodin ruler that had the power over a resilientness and death, the mass of people did non matter. In capital of Greece this was far from the case. Athens created its own government influenceivity, 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 only equal in the eyes of the government. The urban center of Athens stood by itself it needed no others to help it. She left wing field her gates open to only and did non concern herself with excluding foreigners. Her military stood alone. Athens never advanced into a nonher territory with assort she did it alone.He also marvels in the occurrence that Athens does not live for the aid of war. He states that they live free, more thanover are a lways ready if in insecurity. He even goes so far to say that his enemies are happy with a triumph over a sm whole opus of the army. Pericles acclamations Athens for her form of government republic because it is only in a democracy that citizens are encouraged to contri howevere and introduce in self-rule. Democracy suffers equality, merit brings public success, social and economic mobility is encouraged, and the law protects all We alone give the man who refuses to concern set out in city ad hominem business useless, Pericles announces. And he gets in a  moil at Sparta by proudly proclaiming that kinda than look upon discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of achieve, we think it is an intrinsic preliminary to any wise action at all.Pericles encourages his audience to realize the illustriousness of Athens and enjoy every social function the city has to widen Further, we provide many ways to critique the mind from the burdens of business. We hold contests a nd offer sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private establishments forms a daily source of pleasure and helps to promote away sorrow. The magnitude of our city draws the claim of the world into our harbor, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as familiar a luxury as those of his own. What Pericles dialogue virtually in his lecture is almost black in importance by how he delivers the message. It is Pericles rhetoric that profits this speech famous and the theoretical account for so many others in the ply of history.Throughout his speech, Pericles holds up idealisation as the incentive for men to rush to scrap for their freedom Athens is a brainy city because of the sacrifices of previous generations of men, and this generation, too, must(prenominal) elevate its burden. And while armed combat for your country notify help bring about a victory, it also has the benefit of bringing you personal glory, something Pericles believes c an be gained in no other way than by last for your country Realize for yourself the power of Athens, and run through your eyes upon her day after day, work on you become her devoted lover. Then, when all her sizeableness breaks upon you, reflect that it was by courage, sense of art and a keen feeling of pay back in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal harm in an enterprise could make them comply to deprive their country of their valorousness, barely they placed it at her feet as the most historied contribution they could offer.By this mutual offering of their lives made by them all, they each of them by the piece received that renown 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 occasion on which deed or story shall parentage for its commemoration. For heroes have the whole 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 Pericles accomplishes his goal to inspire a city in mass grieve for its lost warriors.Woodrow Wilson was faced with a war cry to arms when in 1917 he title 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 findable. He comments that Choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting is a bold and courageous act and it deserves appraise and glory. He says the soldiers fled only from dishonor, but met danger face to face.Abraham capital of Nebraska was faced with a akin task. The Gettysburg manoeuvre was delivered on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during dedication of the Gettysburg guinea pig Cemetery. Lincolns speech is more humble than Pericles, but just as passionate. He is careful in not mentio ning either location of the war he only speaks of the nation as a whole. Now we are engaged in a salient civil war, testing whether the nation, or any nation so conceived and so putd can farseeing endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as the final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that this nation energy live. Lincoln pays tribute to not only the Union army, but the Confederate as easily, by saying The brave men, animate and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far preceding(prenominal) our poor power to add or detract.There are obvious parallels in the midst of Pericles and Lincolns speeches. They both snip out to accomplish the same thing just in different ways. other famous writer and scholar with a similar view of Athenian society, Sophocles, chose to vocalize his opinion through playwright. Specifically in his ii great tragedies Oedipus the queer and Antigone. Pericles and Sophocles, although advance from different ends of the spectrum (the aforementioned oratory or rhetoric and the latter fictional), both consider the individual and the state in their workings 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 cardinal masterpieces, Oedipus the King and Antigone.In the following paper, I allow for compare the mens ideas and views on the assailable of the individual and the state. In particular, their thoughts on the importance of military uprightness, honor, courage, and views on women. Both men considered the true 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 personal business). The Greeks obviousl y 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 referee in the claim that steadfastness in his nations battles provides a dress to cover a mans other imperfections the steady-going 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 give out importance As I see it, whoever assumes the task, the awesome 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 prize that man in death as well as life (Antigone 48-49).Creon backs up his dustup with actions. He goes on to talk of Eteocles and Polynices, the two sons of Oedipus Eteocles leave a lone be given a proper burial, since he went down fighting for Thebes, being loyal to his city Polynices, on the other hand, committed treason and went against everything Creon stands for and believes in, therefore he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold These are my principles. Never at my hands will the traitor be honored higher up 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 downright. 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 from dishonor, but met danger face to face (Pericles 60). Do these characteristics b ring anyone we know to mind? The answer is yes, and two people come to mind Antigone and Oedipus. Sophocless heroin (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 burial 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 express she was the offender, and did not regret her actions. Oedipus, instead of vainglorious in to fate, battled it for as long as he could until fate finally mensuration him. Although it seems that Sophocles writings parallel Pericles views on womens inferiority, certain excerpts provide a ass that Sophocles views contradict those presented in the Funeral Oration.Pericles states, if I must say anything on the subject of female person excellence.Great will be your glory in not falling perfectly of y our natural character and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for total 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 putting her in a subordinate position or sounding 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 ready more expression of Sophocless views which check with Pericless in Antigone and not so much in Oedipus the King. All lead of three of the pieces were written in propagation when the definition of freedom, independence, democracy were still fresh 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 sacrifice themselves for their beliefs and the good of their society.