Batch:- 3rd

Phase- I
Roll No.-34
Class-12
Subject:- General English
Topic:- THE DEATH OF SOCRATES

Prepared by:- Rajneet Kaur

School Name:- Govt. High School,Wadala Johal.
Distt. :- Amritsar
 THE DEATH OF SOCRATES

: By BENJAMIN JOWETT

INTRODUCTION
Benjamin Jowett is known for his translation of
dialogues of a distinguish teacher and philosopher,
Plato, in elegant English prose.
The present extract deals with Socrates who is one
of the philosophers of the world. Socrates belongs to
Greece. He did not believe in the state religion. His
ideas were considered to be the dangerous to the
very existence of the state religion. So, he was
condemned to death.
Here the writer gives an account of the last moments of
Socrates life. The description of the great Greek
philosopher’s quiet and touching end is deeply moving.
Greek philosopher Socrates chose to die rather than cease
teaching his philosophy, declaring that “no evil can happen
to a good man, either in life or after death.” In 399 BC
Socrates was accused and convicted of impiety and moral
corruption of the youth of Athens, Greece. At his trial, he
presented a justification of his life. Greek philosopher Plato,
a disciple of Socrates, in Plato’s Apology, recorded the
substance of his speech.

Socrates
(469-399 B.C.E.
 SUMMARY
It was the evening. The hour of sunset was
approaching. Socrates was to be administered
poison after the sunset. He had taken bath and was
sitting with his disciples. Soon the jailer came there.
He told Socrates that he thought him to be the
noblest and gentlest and best of all who ever came
to jail. As such he never expected from him any
show of anger or ill will. He said that mostly the
condemned prisoners displayed deep sorrow and
used very rude for him when they were offered
poison. But he was sure that Socrates was different
from them. So he would realize that the jailer was
not to be blamed.
It was his duty to administer poison to the
condemned prisoners and he was just carrying out
the orders of the authorities. Then he bade farewell
to Socrates and advised him to bear the situation
bravely. The jailer was deeply upset and grieved at
heart as the end of Socrates life was drawing near.
He could not control his emotions and bursting into
tears left the place.
After his departure, Socrates turned to his disciples
and told them that the jailer had been coming to see
him regularly and that he had been very kind to him
during his stay in the jail. So he told his disciple
Crito, that they must do as he says, and hence the
cup of poison be brought.
Crito wanted to prolong the hours of his master’s
death. He wanted to spend some time more with
him. So he asked Socrates not to hurry, as the sun
had not yet set. He told his master that he knew
that many men, who, in order to enjoy the
company of there near and dear ones, had taken
the poison even after the announcement had been
made
Socrates told Crito that he was not going to follow
the example of others because he did not think that
he would gain any thing by drinking the poison little
later. He did not want to cling to life, which no longer
belong to him. Moreover, death for him was only a
journey to new life. He thought that he would fall in
his own eyes by delaying the hours of his death. So
he asked Crito not to delay his journey to the new
world.
Crito signaled the servant who was standing near by.
The servant went out and after some time returned
with the jailer carrying the cup of poison. Socrates
asked the jailer to direct him how to proceed. The
jailer told him that after drinking the poison he should
walk about until his legs were heavy and then he
should lie down to let the poison act. Saying so, the
jailer handed the cup of poison to Socrates who took
the cup modestly and without any trace of fear.
. He did not look perturbed by the thought of death.
Then he asked the jailer if he could make a libation
out of that cup to any god. He was told that they
prepared only that much poison as was deemed to
be sufficient. Then he took the cup to his lips and
cheerfully drank the poison
When his disciples saw him drinking the poison, they
could not restrain themselves. They were so grieved
that even when they tried hard to check their tears,
they failed to do so. Crito was also feeling very
miserable. He found himself equally helpless to
control his tears. Appolodorus, who had been
weeping all the time, broke out in loud and
passionate crying. At this all lost control over
themselves. Socrates alone retained his calm ness.
He admonished them for their strange behavior
sentimental would be weeping and crying.
 But he never expected this kind of behavior from
others. So he advised them to have patience. On
hearing his these words they were ashamed of their
cowardly behavior and exercised control over
themselves.
As per the directions given to him by the jailer,
Socrates continued walking until his legs began to
fail, and then he lay on his back. He was growing
cold and stiff.
His foot was pressed hard and then he was asked if he
could feel. He replied in the negative. The jailer said
when the poison reached the heart that would be the
end.Before leaving for the other world, Socrates spoke
for the last time. He said to Crito that he owed a cock to
Asclepius and asked him if he would remember to pay
the debt. Crito promised to pay the debt and asked his
master if there was anything else to be done. There was
no answer to this question. In a minute or two he was
dead. Crito closed his eyes and mouth.
Thus the wisest and justest and best man of his time
met his end in a very quiet and peaceful way.
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