Please read Plutarch's Life of Aristides and/or his Life of Themistocles.
You can use the abridged "children's version" of the life of Aristides or the children's version of the life of Themistocles if you like, but, if you want fuller stories, see this online version of the Life of Aristides and/or this version of the Life of Themistocles.
Do you see tragic elements in the life of either of these men? What about elements of real tragedy? Would either man make a good tragic here? Why, or why not?
If you want to do *both* readings for double extra-credit, that's fine. Make separate comments for each figure, though, to make it easy on me.
In the case of Aristides, the tragedy lies in his ostracism by the Athenians. For the average citizen who thinks that government and those in power are corrupt, being someone who is actually “Just” could be hard to swallow. For example, though Aristides had been loyal to a fault, even signing his own name when ask to a ballot by an Athenian citizen to be ostracized, he never sacrificed his integrity for power or wealth. A man with so much power, never having overextended his authority was kicked out of Athens because his just character was “too good to be true.” There is a catharsis in Aristides’ misfortune. He was eventually asked to come back when the Athenians, again, needed his leadership to fight against the Persians. There is definitely tragedy here for Aristides, but he can also be considered an Athenian protagonist. I think great protagonists have an element of tragedy in their story. It strengthens their case for this type of leadership and role model recognition.
ReplyDelete-Jonathon Fargher
After reading the story of Aristedes, I didn't see much in terms of tragedy. There was some tragedy in Aristedes' life, but his life was not a tragedy. While I don't think Aristedes' life was exceptionally easy, I don't think he ended his life in a tragic way. The tragedy in Aristedes' life came not at the end of his life, but during the middle of it. The tragedy is that Aristedes is ostracized from Athens for being too just and too humble. He was certainly a respected person, but he was too respected. This decision comes back to bite Athens when they require someone like Aristedes to lead their troops. While this event is tragic, Aristedes is eventually appreciated again by the people of Athens shortly after. When he dies, he dies poor, but he is appreciated so much that others joined together to finance his funeral. I don't see how the end of his life can be considered a tragedy when his legacy was cemented in an overtly positive way.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious tragedy is when he is ostracized from Athens, however it isn't so much about tragedy than it is irony because Athens need Aristides in the end. Aristides is ostracized for being humble and he dies poor: Irony. Aristides is respected once again after Athens realizes they needed him all along which is ironic. So I dont see so much tragic events in this as I do the Ironic situations.
ReplyDeleteLindsey Landenberger
The story of Aristedes could be seen as a partial tragedy of sorts. He had many hardships throughout his life, eventually leading him to be poor and without many friends. Despite this, he lived a just life, and was himself just and humble. However, in a city that holds itself to standards of wealth and corruption, Aristedes was never going to prosper. So it comes to no surprise that he was eventually cast out from the city.
ReplyDeleteThe fun part comes later on, as Athens suddenly wises up to the fact that 'oh hey, having a just general would be pretty handy right about now' and they take him back.
While his life does end somewhat on the merrier side of things with people starting to respect him more, he still dies poor and with the many scars his life has given him. It doesn't matter much how comfy the coffin they gave him is seeing as he can't feel how soft the container might be.
Themistocles was absolutely crucial to Athens' (and Greece's) power and victory over the Persians - not only as a strategoi in the first invasion but as the man who convinced Athens to create the large Mediterranean navy at the time. Of course, he let it get to his head. I think the great tragedy in Themistocles' life, like so many other Athenians and Greeks in general, was that he got too big of a head. His temple to Artemis seems almost purely for ego - and it made people feel like they owed him something (which they may have but no one wants to be reminded.) His being ostracized is hardly a surprise, nor is his rather disgraceful flight - although it seems being honorable and showing up to court would have simply meant his death at charges that had supposedly already been settled, and were most likely just political mud slinging.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see the tragic elements. On one hand a man lived a poor life doining nothing but right by his fellow neighbor, and yet he was still banished from his home for a ridiculous reason. He ended up dying poor and homeless unable to pay for his own funeral. It seemed as if the town had grown to love him again though, and ended up providing care for him and his funeral costs as well. Another one of the tagedies is a man who wants nothing but good for his country got banished because the citizens thought he was plotting aginst them. So then this war hero took himself to Persia, not as a traitor, but to get information. The Persians treated him so good, but wanted him to turn on the people who turned on him. He could not bear to do that and ended up killing himself over the whole ordeal. I think both characters would have made great heros and figures for a greek tragedy. Both cared more about the heart and how their actions affected the people around them.
ReplyDeleteAbbigail Patton.
I see don't necessarily see a tragic event but I do see Irony in the story of Aristides. Aristides was very noble and trustworthy who was ostracized because of jealousy. Ironically Athens needed him 2 years later and were thankful for his return because he was much needed. However, I do see a tragic element in the story of Themistocles. Themistocles’ life ended thousands of miles away from his beloved land and his reputation was ruined for centuries because he was accused of working with the Persians.
ReplyDeleteThere are tragic elements to it. One of the most obvious one is that he was ostracized from Athens. It is kinda funny however though that in the end Athens still needed him needs Aristides. It is also interesting that him being humble and trustworthy which are known to be good traits of a person are why he gets ostracizes.
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