The passages that will be discussed in this half of the essay are Thucydides 6.91 to 6.93 and will look at particular ideas and themes that are raised by this piece of text. Alcibiades and Thucydides both experienced exile from Athens, which allows Alcibiades to communicate with Sparta, and allows Thucydides to gain eyewitnesses and accounts from both sides. The text is a speech within Thucydides by Alcibiades to the Spartans. This speech Alcibiades is urging the Spartans to send troops to help the Syracuse and invade the territory belonging to the Athenians.
One of the features of this speech is Alcibiades giving the Spartans advice on how to effectively strike against the Athenians. The first paragraph of the passage selected (6.91 to 6.92) …show more content…
This verbal attack shifts the speech from one of military strategies and plans to one of forceful patriotism. Alcibiades states in this speech that the Spartans have clear cause to follow his instructions because of the wrongs he has suffered at the hand of the Athenians. His wording phrases such as ‘my previous reputation for my loving country’ and ‘I now join in vigorously with her bitterest enemies ’ are a somewhat massive defect from the side of Athens. Alcibiades establishes himself as a firm enemy of Athens, mainly due to his exile. The timing this is placed in the speech is after he has stated his power over military matters. This is a very strategic move on Alcibiades part. The forcefulness for the Spartans to follow his guidance is more than backed up in this part of his speech, if this had been placed at any other part in the speech, it may not have been as affective if it had been said in an earlier part of the passage. The nature of the paragraph is to reinforce and make clear to the Spartans the benefits of using his suggestions. In the original Greek this transition is made by the changing of the word έχΘροί (enemies) to πολέμιοί (opponents) this not entirely subtle change in vernacular means that no longer do the Spartans see him as an enemy but rather a friend. Another striking aspect recorded in this speech is the main way in which Alcibiades tries to convince the audience that Athens is not what it once was. In his exile his reflections on Athens is all about how the country is now unjust and not his, he does not feel confident in the Athenian system to call himself as a
One of the features of this speech is Alcibiades giving the Spartans advice on how to effectively strike against the Athenians. The first paragraph of the passage selected (6.91 to 6.92) …show more content…
This verbal attack shifts the speech from one of military strategies and plans to one of forceful patriotism. Alcibiades states in this speech that the Spartans have clear cause to follow his instructions because of the wrongs he has suffered at the hand of the Athenians. His wording phrases such as ‘my previous reputation for my loving country’ and ‘I now join in vigorously with her bitterest enemies ’ are a somewhat massive defect from the side of Athens. Alcibiades establishes himself as a firm enemy of Athens, mainly due to his exile. The timing this is placed in the speech is after he has stated his power over military matters. This is a very strategic move on Alcibiades part. The forcefulness for the Spartans to follow his guidance is more than backed up in this part of his speech, if this had been placed at any other part in the speech, it may not have been as affective if it had been said in an earlier part of the passage. The nature of the paragraph is to reinforce and make clear to the Spartans the benefits of using his suggestions. In the original Greek this transition is made by the changing of the word έχΘροί (enemies) to πολέμιοί (opponents) this not entirely subtle change in vernacular means that no longer do the Spartans see him as an enemy but rather a friend. Another striking aspect recorded in this speech is the main way in which Alcibiades tries to convince the audience that Athens is not what it once was. In his exile his reflections on Athens is all about how the country is now unjust and not his, he does not feel confident in the Athenian system to call himself as a