Pericles Funeral Oratory essays

Pericles' Funeral Oratory essays Pericless funeral oration reveals a great deal of information about the Athens, one of the greatest Ancient Greek city-states/empire. It reflects upon the values, culture and traditions that were typical of its social structure as one of the most advanced communities of its times. The speech touches on several important issues and principles governing the life of people in the ancient empire, respect and gratitude for ancestors, men in public service, responsibilities for others, loyalty, equality and fairness in treating of its citizens and neighbors as well as position of women in the society. But most of all, the speech reflects upon great respect, appreciation and honor with which the whole community perceived the role of men protecting the values and heritage of their own city, that is Athens. In the very beginning of the oration, Pericless talks about the tradition and appropriateness of such tradition in honoring the acts of brave men who died in the battle, defending their ground against adversaries. In his eyes and believes, such an honor is especially appropriate whenever men go boldly into the battle with the notion of danger of losing the most valuable thing they have, that is their live; and fight not just for the sake saving themselves but for the sake of their whole community. Then he went on honoring the ancestors who set the foundations of the great empire and then their fathers, who all contributed to its further growth and advancement into a superior community with respect to its wealth as well as its social principles, thus making it stand above its contemporaries whether in peace or war; because it is not only the wealth that shows the greatness of a community but equally the acts and general conduct of its citizens. Later on, he elaborates on the democratic system of Athens based on the principles of equality and just treatment of its citizens which at the same time does not fail to recognize indivi ...