Monday, May 4, 2020

Herodotus Essay Research Paper As Herodotus develops free essay sample

Herodotus Essay, Research Paper As Herodotus develops his History he diverges from the chief facet of his narrative many times throughout the text. Many wonder why Herodotus diverges from the chief point by presenting minor characters who do non look relevant to the cardinal subject. Some consider this method of narrative confusing and pointless but I believe that Herodotus has a intent for including these minor figures and that these characters help show Herodotus political orientation towards proper moral and political systems. These minor figures are developed and manipulated by Herodotus in order to show his thoughts and he is able to carry through this because these characters are flexible in the sense that the readers ( and hearers ) do non hold a sensitivity when introduced to these characters. By closely analysing the minor characters throughout book seven we realize Herodotus # 8217 ; purpose behind the inclusion of these characters is to show his beliefs on the proper ethical motives people should exhibi t and to demo how Tyranny is a hapless signifier of authorities. As the History unfolds Herodotus diverges from the cardinal thought by presenting characters which do non look to match with that cardinal subject. These diverges serve teach the reader as to Herodotus # 8217 ; position on moral issues. Herodotus expresses his position on the manner decease should be perceived by society through the words of Artabanus. Xerxes represents the common perceptual experience of decease when he is look up toing the enormousness of his ground forces and begins to cry because he realizes that they will all be gone in short span of clip. Artabanus tells Xerxes # 8220 ; Life is gives us greater juncture for commiseration that this. Short as his life is, no adult male is happy # 8230 ; but many times, to wish himself dead instead alive ( Artabanus 7.46 ) . # 8221 ; Herodotus is explicating through these words that decease should non be seen in a negative position because life brings adult male so much problems and anguish that he desires for decease to come upon him. Artabanus tells us of these problems when he says # 8220 ; For there are catastrophes that meet him and diseases that derange him, so that they make this life # 8230 ; look long ( Artabanus 7.46 ) . # 8221 ; Even though people may hold with Xerxes actions that decease should be pitied but Herodotus does demo that life brings calamity to adult male and that decease may move as an flight from these calamities. We are able to see the manner proper behaviour should be displayed when 1 has been dishonored harmonizing to Herodotus. In book seven Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, is requested for helpers to conflict Persia by Athens. Gelon is ferocious with this petition because Athens dishonored him by declining to assist in the yesteryear. Gelon strongly tells Athens # 8220 ; When I begged you to bear a manus with me in the battle against a barbaric enemy # 8230 ; when I kept pressing you to revenge the slaying of Dorieus # 8230 ; you did non come aid, either for my interest or to revenge the slaying of Dorieus ( Gelon 7.158 ) . # 8221 ; Many people would non oppugn Gelon for non assisting the Athenians against the Iranian invasion since they have been dishonored and now are a Providence of Persia but he does offer the Athenians aid. Herodotus uses Gelon to demo how one should turn the other cheek when Gelon says # 8220 ; But though I have met dishonour from you, I will non be like you ( Gelon 7.158 ) # 8221 ; and he offers ships and soldiers to the Athenians. Herodotus shows that one should contend in conflict under any circumstance in different cases throughout book seven. As Xerxes Marches towards Greece he and his ground forces are provided nutrient, shelter, and money by Pythius. All that Pythius asks for in return for his # 8220 ; generousness # 8221 ; is that is firstborn boy does non travel to war with Persi a and stays to care for him. Xerxes is enrages with this petition because non contending is non acceptable by anyone non even to the male monarch himself. Xerxes says â€Å"Vile animal, I am myself processing to Greece, and with me are my kids, my brothers, my family, and my friends ( Xerxes 7.39 ) † and he punishes Pythius for even sing his boy non contending by slaying his eldest boy. Another illustration of Herodotus’ position on combat is when the Spartans are entrapped by the Persians and want to conflict to the decease. Leonidas one of the male monarchs of Sparta knew his destiny was to decease if he went to conflict the Persians because it was prophesied before the war began. His destiny was to decease but he still went to contend the Iranis at the conflict of Thermopylae and â€Å"for himself he thought it would be dishonourable to go forth ( Leonidas 7.220 ) .† Herodotus besides uses these diverges to show that Tyranny is a hapless signifier of authorities. Herodotus shows that Tyranny is a signifier of authorities that contains mistakes which are non good to the people or the province as a whole. Herodotus uses Artabanus to demo how a authorities controlled by one adult male is more susceptible to doing bad determinations. Artabanus is reding Xerxes non to pay war on Greece by stating him of the past errors of former male monarchs. He tells Xerxes # 8220 ; I told your male parent, my brother Darius, non to pay war against the Scythian # 8221 ; and # 8220 ; He made his run and returned, holding lost many good work forces from his ground forces ( Artabanus 7.10 ) . # 8221 ; He besides tells Xerxes of other yesteryear failed conquerings ; Cyrus # 8217 ; expedition against the Massagentae and Cambyses # 8217 ; onslaught on the long lived Ethiopians. Herodotus besides says through Artabanus that # 8220 ; It is a awful thing, even to hear , that all the power if the King should lie at the disposal of one adult male ( Artabanus 7.10 ) . # 8221 ; Some may state that all male monarchs have advisers that help him do right determinations but as Herodotus demonstrates the male monarch does non ever listen to his advisers sound advice as in the instance of Xerxes and Artabanus. In a Oppressive signifier of authorities the people within the authorities are non content functioning under a one adult male regulation, harmonizing to Herodotus. In book seven Xerxes asks Demaratus to state him how Greece will fair under when invaded by Persia # 8217 ; s monolithic ground forces. Demaratus tells the male monarch that he will talk the truth about the Spartans because it was requested of him and he says # 8220 ; in no manner will they accept our proposal bearing bondage to Greece, and the 2nd is that they will dispute you to conflict, even though all the other Greek were on your side ( Demaratus 7.102 ) . # 8221 ; Xerxes can non believe that the Spartans would contend against such odds but Demaratus explains that they fight for a greater cause so the Persians. He tells Xerxes # 8220 ; They have as the tyrant over them Law, and the fright him more so your work forces fear you ( Demaratus 7.104 ) . # 8221 ; Herodotus is showing that persons under the regulation of democracy are more content so persons under Tyranny because they fight more valorously for their authorities. Herodotus uses the debut of characters to diverge from the cardinal thought of his subject and he uses this technique to show his positions on moral and political subjects. These controversial subjects come up while he is blossoming his History and he uses these characters to show his ain sentiment on these topics. An illustration of Herodotus # 8217 ; confronts moral topics during his narrative when he talks about decease, giving to 1s pride, and honest combat. He besides uses these characters to demo that Tyranny is non a good signifier of authorities. Bibliography Herodotus Translated by David Green

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