This story takes place in Sophocles' final days, in his prison cell. I find it ironic that though the council did not want him influencing others around him with his differing beliefs, yet by putting him in a cell with other people surrounding him, he was practically given a classroom. I do not know if all of these men were condemned to die- but if they were not, once they got out of prison, they could spread the word of what they had learned from Sophocles. By killing one philosopher, the city potentially created many. He expressed his beliefs about life after death- and no doubt they differed from the beliefs of the people in his time. To his last moments, he was still spurring the minds of those around him, pushing them to question their beliefs and dig deeper for a clarity in truth.
Ps- I commented on Sierra and Noah's posts!
I never really thought the people around him as being his students, but as more of a captive audience. I found it ironic either way. Sophocles was able to continue teaching even in his final days.
ReplyDeleteI do like the perspective you are coming from but maybe the council assumed that the other men would not take to well and harm Sophocles when he tried convincing them of his teachings.
ReplyDeleteYeah that is very interesting that they allowed him to continue, the very thing he was convicted for.
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