Good The Death Of Socrates Essay Example

Socrates was one of the greatest philosophers that ever existed. Socrates lived during the rule of the Athenian government. He encouraged people to question things in the society and think rationally. He disagreed with the notion that ‘might makes right’. The leaders then opposed the teachings of Socrates arguing that they made people rebellious. The government asked him to denounce his teachings. As a man of his principles, he could not denounce his teachings. He was to face execution by the government or run to exile. As a final lesson to his students, he opted to drink ‘Hemlock’ (a dangerous poison) to show his students the importance of being true to oneself even when death beckons. After his death, more philosophers emerged led to the spread of his doctrines worldwide.
Years after his death, Jacques-Louis David made a painting showing the death of Socrates. Jacques was one of the greatest painters of his time. He made many famous paintings in the world today. One of his greatest paintings is ‘The death of Socrates’. His inspiration to make this story was Plato’s explanation on the death of Socrates. The painting shows Socrates about to drink hemlock before his students instead of going to exile. The painting was made in 1787. It captured the heroic death of Socrates. Centuries after the death of Socrates, Jacques-Louis David created a visual form to depict the picture of how the death took place. His painting intended to rejuvenate the emotions and feelings surrounding the death of Socrates. Jacques-Louis David captured different aspects surrounding the death of Socrates.
The painting shows Socrates as an old man in a white robe sitting on his deathbed. He has raised one of his hands signifying that he was communicating to the people around him. People of various ages surround him in the picture. This signifies the fact that Socrates intended his death to be a lesson to his learners. He intended to show that he would choose to die for what he believed was true than live escaping from the troubles he faced. The picture shows that he was communicating to his students before his death and the delivering his final lesson.
Another aspect of the picture is the emotions shown by the people surrounding Socrates during his death. The grief on the faces of the people surrounding Socrates is visible on their faces. The young man handing over the hemlock to Socrates cannot bear to look him into the eyes. Instead, he hands him the poison facing away from him. He tries to free his conscience from the action about to take place. Another man clings to the thigh of Socrates as a way of showing his deep affection to Socrates. This shows the reluctance of his students to let him die. The faces of other people surrounding the old man during this time chow great grief. One of the men on the background faces away from Socrates with his hands lifted in a prayerful manner as a way of showing his intervention to the gods to stop the death of Socrates. An old man sits on the edge of the bed facing away from Socrates. He cannot face his master die. There is a man leaning on the wall outside the room where Socrates intended to end his life. Philosophers have argued that this man could be Apollodorus who was sent away for showing too much grief. The painting clearly shows how difficult it was for the students of Socrates to accept his voluntary death.
Some philosophers argue that there are some inaccuracies in the drawing. First, the old man sitting on the end of the bed is Plato. By the time of Socrates’ death, Plato was still a young man and hence the painting fails in portraying the reality surrounding his death. The biggest inaccuracy was in identifying the ages of most of the students of Socrates. The other inaccuracy is the absence of Socrates’ wife in the picture. Socrates’ wife is at a distance leaving the prison while Socrates is about to drink the poison. Philosophers believe that Socrates’ wife was among the people present during his death. However, despite the inaccuracies the picture covers most of the aspects that surrounded the death of Socrates. The people surrounding him during this time are in rugged clothes signifying the fact that most of his disciples consisted of slaves and poor people in the society. The background of the painting shows setting of a prison. This shows the fact that Socrates died in prison.
David uses color to highlight expressions of emotion in the painting. David mutes more red shades on the edges of the painting but the painting looks vibrant at the center, culminating in the dark red robe worn by the man holding a cup of hemlock. Socrates and Plato appear calm in the painting. They are garbed in contrasting bluish-white robes as a response to the critics of David’s Oath of the Horatii, who asserted that his paintings appeared garish. David may have succumbed to some historical inaccuracies especially in developing the characters that are present in the painting. The ages of most characters in the painting are misrepresented, especially Plato who has been portrayed as old. At the time, the audience would expect that Plato and the other students of Socrates were youthful and emotional as opposed to the current portrait. In this painting, Socrates is an old man sitting at the foot of the bed. The actual theme of the painting seems concealed, which gives an ample room for critics.
The men in the painting are a dressed in elderly robes. Most of the characters are old. Probably, David designed the painting with the future in mind such that after a few generations would attain the necessary age. Perhaps, David thought that the scene was unsuitable for the young people, who could have been exempted from Socrates’ execution. The far left part of the painting was darkened, indicating an entrance with more men on the background. The artist visualizes that the place of execution as a place within a big cottage with dungeons and detention chambers. The determining factor on the content of the painting is the color and the dressing code. The painting creates an image of philosophy of the old.
Socrates is one of the greatest philosophers ever. His theories have led to the development of some of the developments we have in the modern world. His death is one of his greatest actions to support his thoughts and teachings. Jacques-Louis David attempts to convey this moment in his painting. The drawing not only rejuvenates the teaching of Socrates but also honor his work. His death shows the need for people to uphold values that they believe in even when faced by the worst of circumstances. The painting reserves the teaching of Socrates and encourages people to honor them.