Speech of Aristophanes in the Symposium Term Paper

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speech of Aristophanes in the Symposium. Specifically, it will evaluate Aristophanes' myth and answer the questions, do you agree with the view of love that it presents? Disagree? Do you consider it useful? Do you consider it misleading? Why? Aristophanes' Myth is meant to be funny, but it also makes the reader stop and think about the roles we assign to each other as humans, and as lovers. Myth is just that, something made up to educate or amuse, and this myth does both in its own way. Love is one of the strongest emotions, and so, it brings out strong reactions, just as this speech does.

The view of love that Aristophanes presents in his speech is certainly not the most accepted view of love, yet it has its own merit. Love does not have to be between a man and a woman. There is perhaps no more deep and abiding love than that of a parent and child, and this is not based solely on sex or gender, it is based on the love one has for family, and the product of a loving relationship.

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Thus, the product of a relationship such as Aristophanes discusses should also have a loving nature and yearn for another loving relationship. This is how we recreate our own needs and wants in our children, and this is how love is perpetuated. Aristophanes said that love "tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature" ("Speech" 27). These words could be an anthem to love, and man's ability to love.

This definition of love is quite useful, because it shows an understanding and acceptance that seems to have disappeared in much of modern society. Aristophanes does not find anything wrong with homosexual love, in fact, he finds it quite natural. He says, "In every way, then, this sort of man grows up as a love of young men and a lover of Love, always rejoicing in his own kind" ("Speech" 28). Clearly, not all societies have succumbed to the homophobia of modern times, and it seems that they were unaffected by their acceptance. Grecian society did crumble, but not because of their acceptance of alternative forms of love.….....

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"Speech Of Aristophanes In The Symposium" (2004, June 29) Retrieved May 16, 2025, from
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