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The Symposium: Structure and Characterisation.
I intend to look at the structure of The Symposium and outline how its presentation aids Socrates. The structure of the dialogue is how the events are ordered. The events are as arbitrarily ordered as the orders of the speakers:
"Phaedrus should start, because he is in the top position".
I believe the events are structured in a particular way for the effect of aiding Socrates.
The first point of structural interest is the use of a framed narrative. The story of The Symposium is framed by a discussion between Apolloduras and a companion. It is Apolloduras who retells the story.
The reader learns that Apolloduras was not present at the symposium. He heard the story from Aristodemus. Aristodemus was not an original guest, he accompanied Socrates.
An important motif is the companion�s false belief in Apolloduras� presence at the party. The companion has a desire to have a true account, he has already had a fragmented report
"I had report from someone who got it from Philip�s son Phoenix, but he said you know about it too. He wasn�t able to give me an exact report"
The significance of the framed narration is the effect of Socrates� characterisation. Firstly, we have Apolloduras and Aristodemus who both love Socrates. So Socrates is set up as somebody to love.
Secondly, the reader is aligned with the companion. We have little knowledge of the symposium and equal desire to find out. Like the companion, we are directed to Socrates.
Thirdly, Socrates is characterised as a �truth-source�. Though Apolloduras has Aristodemus� account, he still seeks verification from Socrates:
"I checked with Socrates afterwards some of the points he told me, and he confirmed Aristodemus� account"
Thus, the effect of the framed narrative is to engage our interest with Socrates and characterise him as a �truth source�. This leads to dramatic and Socratic irony. We know the symposium is now legendary, as it has been
"Many years since Agathon stopped living in Athens"
The passage of time signifies legendary status for the story. This interest is because of Socrates� story. He is responsible. Because we see the impact of the symposium, and who is responsible for this impact, we dismiss the other guests� eulogies before we hear them. Likewise we dismiss Socrates� statement:
"You�d be very frightened and in just as much of a quandary as I am".
The overall effect of the influence of structure on characterisation is to deny impartiality for the reader. We are bias from the beginning. We reject all the others, awaiting Socrates, the truth source. This, then, means The Symposium is not a dialogue, which would imply people speaking on equal terms. It is a disguised monologue.
ethics of the symposium