Pericles Funeral Oration: The Ignored Arrogance Essay Example

whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law; when it is a question of putting on person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which the man possesses.

No one, so long as he has it in him to be of service to the state, is kept in political obscurity because of poverty. And just as our political life is free and open so as our day-to-day life in our relations with each other. ” (37) hit me the most. The statement affirms that all eligible citizens already have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives despite the gender, the race and ethnicities might be. At this point, he is allowing the Athenians to participate equally in the proposal, development, and creation of laws.

Everyone already has opportunity to show what they acquire in themselves. On the other hand, I was slightly offended when a phrase from the last paragraph of the piece states, “…. your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you. ” (46) It seems that Pericles is implying that even though the government is already democratic, women still did not have suffrage rights to sue whether men will give us a compliment or even insult us.

It appears that a woman is still a property to their husbands, giving them rights to what their bodies produced;

children, sex and domestic labor. Women were still treated like a bird in a cage, all care was given. All wishes were granted. Except for one thing—to give its wings back and let it fly. Another point that struck me is when he said that “When our work is over, we are in a position to enjoy all kinds of recreation for our spirits. (38) I like the way that they are still making time for themselves and for their families even though they have lot of works to do. Family is the most important creation in the world. When the people around are too busy to notice you, you’re family is always there for you. That’s why we should spend more time with them. Well, as of for me, Pericles' view was obviously a much idealized one, and it ignored the realities of party factionalism, selfishness, and arrogance that were to soon manifest after his death.