In Plato’s Five Dialogues and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, man’s actions for
the greater good of the city-state can lead to horrible consequences for the
individual. Both Socrates and Oedipus carry out what they believe to be their
duty for their city. Socrates believes that his actions are just and proper, but
when viewed by the city-state as a whole his actions are looked at as
counter-productive and ill advised to the youth of the society. Oedipus on the
other hand hasn’t done anything to harm his people. Following his decision
making regarding the murder of his father, he ends up as an enemy of the state,
because he has become an enemy to himself. Both having to suffer the
consequences for their actions, they remain to uphold their loyalty to their
respective city-states. Being one of the greatest thinkers in history, Socrates
tried to spread his wisdom by supporting the greater good of the city-state, the
youth. When questioning Meletus, Socrates tries to justify his expansion of
education by referring to horses. Do “all men improve them and one individual
corrupts them? Or is quite the contrary true, one individual is able to improve
them, or very few, namely horse breeders, whereas the majority, if they have
horses and use them, corrupt them?” (Plato 30). Is it possible for one man to
work and corrupt all the youth? Is it possible for one man to even reach all of
society’s youth? It can clearly be established that the teachings of one man
cannot harm the city, but only make people greater. There are even more examples
of Socrates upholding his beliefs for nothing more then the benefit of the city.
While serving as a member of the Council, during the investigation of the ten
naval generals, Socrates was the only dissenting member “of the presiding
committee to oppose your [the council] doing something contrary to the laws”
(Plato 36). For acting in this licit manner he was ready to be prosecuted by the
council and accept his consequences. It can easily be seen that Socrates was
never looked at as an equal. To make matters only worse, when tried by Meletus
his belief in the gods was raised. Meletus brought up the point that Socrates
did not believe in gods at all. Although Socrates never completely answers
Meletus’ question he does justify his beliefs. Socrates never directly states
that he believes in gods, but he does say that “ he believes in divine
beings” and “if divine beings are gods” then he must believe in the gods
themselves (Plato 32). Another point that Meletus failed to recognize is that
Socrates belief in these divine beings motivated his actions and teachings. For
Socrates believed that his reason for being put on this planet was to serve as
an instrument of the gods and broaden the understanding of knowledge. If indeed
Socrates was corrupting the youth then “be sure that this is what the god
orders [him] to do” (Plato 35). Socrates had no choice in the life he was
leading, because “he was attached to the city by the god” and “there is no
greater blessing for the city than [his] service to the god” (Plato 35).
Following the decision to send Socrates to his death, he is not at all upset or
surprised at the 501-member jury’s decision. Remaining calm in the manner that
Socrates is so well regarded, he is still able to pay respect for his city.
While being visited in prison by his “old and faithful friend, Crito” Crito
proposes the possibility of Socrates’ escape from prison (Plato 45). Whether
it would have been better for Socrates to escape or nor, he raises the point
“that one must obey the commands of one’s city and country” thus making
the ultimate sacrifice to prove his obedience to the city’s decision (Plato
53). When being compared to Socrates, Oedipus’ actions reflect the same
dedication to the state as was seen by those of Socrates. First of all while in
the presence of “that hellcat the Sphinx” Oedipus was the only person to
rise above the rest and save the city. No bird or even god stood in the way of
the Sphinx, yet Oedipus was able to. By this single act alone he shows all the
homage and devotion to his city that one should even need to. “Oedipus, the
simple man, who knows nothing…thought it out for [him] self” (Sophocles 21)
and was able to avoid whatever lied ahead. Now being king Oedipus has many
different roles to play. He is a leader and also a companion to the citizens of
his kingdom. Oedipus does not worry about the state in which his citizens see
him, since “it is for them [he] suffers, more than for [him] self” (Sophocles
7). Oedipus tries to bury his own emotions and instead shows his empathy for his
citizens, but it is too much for him to control. “Poor children…I know that
you are deadly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is as sick as I. Each of
you suffers in himself alone his anguish, not another’s; but my spirit groans
for the city, for myself, for you” (Sophocles 5). These actions of clemency
display Oedipus’ ability as a ruler to care and relate with the masses.
Demonstrating his care for the masses and acting as a wise king would Oedipus
focused on the need for discovering a solution for the plague. Oedipus “sent
Creon, son of Menoikeus, brother of the Queen, to Delphi, Apollo’s place of
revelation, to learn there, if he can, what act or pledge…may save the city”
(Sophocles 6). Upon Creon’s return, Oedipus learns that “Apollo commands
us…to take revenge upon whoever killed” our former king Laios (Sophocles 8).
With the penalties of death or exile established for the murderer, Oedipus now
knows the course of action that he needs to follow. While having a conversation
with his wife Iocaste, Oedipus investigates the series of events surrounding
King Laios’ death. As the conversation proceeds, more and more of the details
that only he would know become apparent. Oedipus has killed his own father and
now must suffer. “Citizens and alien alike must never shelter me or speak to
me- I must be shunned by all. And I myself pronounced this malediction upon
myself” (Sophocles 42). Oedipus now being the killer has to properly execute
the sentence, thereby freeing the citizenry of the plague that has been sent
upon them by the gods. Similar to Socrates and Crito’s conversation in
Socrates’ jail cell Iocaste pleads with Oedipus to reconsider his decision.
Reacting as Socrates did, Oedipus rejects the suggestion to forego his
punishment and has nothing more to say than “I will not listen; the truth must
be made known” (Sophocles 55). As his punishment is realized, Oedipus
understanding that his course of action has brought great shame to himself and
his city, decries “lead me away from Thebes” (Sophocles 70). Oedipus
understands that in order to protect the citizens and obey the laws of the city
that this outcome must be realized. “This punishment that I have laid upon
myself is just” (Sophocles 71) thereby maintaining the laws of the city higher
than his own life. It is certain now that in the cases of Socrates and Oedipus,
their loyalty to their city far surpassed that of their self-preservation or any
hidden agenda. What have we learned about these two men? Socrates is dead and
Oedipus is a sightless exile, yet their city-states remain strong in their
determination to maintain the justice of society.