A Brief Overview of The Symposium by Plato

This first speech is relatively short. Phaedrus begins his encomium by stating that Eros is the oldest of the gods.

He goes on to claim that love evokes bravery and honour in both men and women, because no one wants to be dishonoured or shamed in the sight of their loved one.

Phaedrus then speaks of those who are willing to die for their lovers, such as Alcestis who died for her husband Admetus.

At this point in the proceedings, Aristophanes is scheduled to speak, but has an attack of the hiccups and is replaced by Eryximachus, a physician.

He opens his encomium by citing that Eros (love) dominates music, astronomy and his own sphere of expertise, medicine.

Throughout his speech he makes references to the importance of his profession and has, therefore, been interpreted as something of a narcissist.

However, he goes on to profess the power of love and states that it is “…the source of all happiness.”(188d)

Newly recovered from his hiccups, Aristophanes, the most popular comic playwright of his time, begins, what he claims will be, an absurd speech.

He states that in primal times, all humans were double-bodied, but in an attempt to scale the heavens these primal beings angered Zeus, who punished them by splitting them in two.

According to Aristophanes, since that time, humans have always searched for the ‘other half’ of themselves.

Recent criticism, has suggested that Aristophanes’ eulogy is simply comic relief and that his creation myth is a satirical swipe at the many creation narratives of Greek Mythology.

The symposium’s host, Agathon, criticizes his fellow speakers for not paying enough respect to the god of love, Eros. Unlike Phaedrus, Agathon believes that love is the youngest of the gods and surrounds himself with youth and beauty.

In fact, he goes as far as to say that love is the enemy of old age.

Socrates, the oldest member of the group, naturally takes issue with Agathon’s eulogy and proceeds to refute his suggestions with a clever line of questioning.

Socrates goes on to discuss the purpose and genealogy of love with the help of quotes from Diotima of Mantinea.

As well as the love between two people, Socrates speaks of a love of wisdom, yearning for knowledge and philosophy, which, he believes, leads us to procreate in the never-ending quest for immortality.

Alcibiades begins his encomium by teasing the previous speaker. He compares Socrates to a statue of Silenus and Marsyas the satyr.

Then, Alcibiades speaks of his infatuation with the older man, claiming that Socrates did not wish to pursue him, so he turned the tables “…as if I were the lover and he my young prey!”(217c)

During his speech, Alcibiades also pays great honours to Socrates, citing his bravery in battle, fearlessness and virtue. He concludes by warning that it is all too easy to fall in love with Socrates.

The symposium is brought to an end when a large group of drunken men arrives. At this point, many of the men retire, but Socrates remains. Eventually, he leaves and goes to the Lyceum. Apparently, Socrates remained awake all night and all day not sleeping until the following evening.

Today, The Symposium is often used as a historical tool, as it contains invaluable documentation of the social constructs of Ancient Greece, including attitudes towards love and sex.

In addition, it offers a fascinating insight into the nature of symposiums themselves.