Portrayal of Historical Figures Katie Byars
Socrates has many ideas on how the stories that are told should be presented to
the people. He thinks that heroes should be perfect. That they should be shown as
the ideal that everyone strives to achieve. He even believes himself that “any
hero would dare to do such wicked deeds as people tell us nowadays”. Socrates
wants to rewrite the stories to tell what he believes that the heroes of old were
infallible and that the gods were perfect. He also wants to recredit the laments of
famous men to others to make them seem less weak. Socrates believed that the
stories of the gods and of the heroes are true, so he isn't trying to rewrite a story
that gives people one set of ideas to make them believe another set of ideas. He is
trying to make them believe that historical figures never had flaws and never
struggled with themselves. Ignoring if it is right or not to censorship the facts to fit
the ideas that we want to portray would people prefer a historical figure or leader
who they only hear of their great deeds. Should we lift up people like Abraham
Lincoln who helped hold the Union together and Emancipated the slaves and
strive to be more like that ideal or should we acknowledge his faults that in order
to keep the Union together he instituted martial law and his intention was never
to emancipate the slaves but just keep everyone happy?
the people. He thinks that heroes should be perfect. That they should be shown as
the ideal that everyone strives to achieve. He even believes himself that “any
hero would dare to do such wicked deeds as people tell us nowadays”. Socrates
wants to rewrite the stories to tell what he believes that the heroes of old were
infallible and that the gods were perfect. He also wants to recredit the laments of
famous men to others to make them seem less weak. Socrates believed that the
stories of the gods and of the heroes are true, so he isn't trying to rewrite a story
that gives people one set of ideas to make them believe another set of ideas. He is
trying to make them believe that historical figures never had flaws and never
struggled with themselves. Ignoring if it is right or not to censorship the facts to fit
the ideas that we want to portray would people prefer a historical figure or leader
who they only hear of their great deeds. Should we lift up people like Abraham
Lincoln who helped hold the Union together and Emancipated the slaves and
strive to be more like that ideal or should we acknowledge his faults that in order
to keep the Union together he instituted martial law and his intention was never
to emancipate the slaves but just keep everyone happy?
What about fictional heroes as well? Should we prefer heroes who fight evil no
matter what and always win? Or should we prefer stories with heroes that fail to
save the people? Who struggles with what is right and wrong and can relate to us
as humans? I personally think that both kinds of heroes are needed and that the
whole of a person should be acknowledged.
I commented on Zelda`s and AnnaKate`s post.
matter what and always win? Or should we prefer stories with heroes that fail to
save the people? Who struggles with what is right and wrong and can relate to us
as humans? I personally think that both kinds of heroes are needed and that the
whole of a person should be acknowledged.
I commented on Zelda`s and AnnaKate`s post.
I agree that both kinds of heroes are needed and that you should acknowledge a person entirely. If you only allow people to look at the good aide of someone, you're setting unrealistic standards for people. Not everyone can do just as good. This can also introduce people to self-esteem problems, which is not good. If you only show the bad, you automatically dismiss that person as bad or harmful. This can cause problems for the person who is portrayed as bad. You definitely need to see and understand both sides of a person to really see them. You especially need to know both sides about a person who you consider a hero and look up to.
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