Essay on The Mytilene Debate and Athenian Debate - 1606 Words

The book written by Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, contains two controversial debates between distinguished speakers of Athens. The two corresponding sides produce convincing arguments which can be taken as if produced as an honest opinion or out of self-interest. The two debates must be analyzed separately in order to conclude which one and which side was speaking out of honest opinion or self-interest, as well as which speakers are similar to each other in their approach to the situation. In the Mytilene Debate the two speakers are Creon, presenting the side in favor of killing the people, and Diodotus, on the opposing side. The two speakers present their opinions on the best way to deal with the Mytilenean people†¦show more content†¦Diodotus takes the opposing side of Cleon, preferring not to kill the Mytileans. He does believes that the killing of the Mytileans will not instill fear in other cities and will have no effect on any future revolt. On the contrary he thinks that by yielding to Cleon=s proposal that the other cities will Anot only make much more careful preparations for revolt, but will also hold out against siege to the very end, since to surrender early or late means just the same thing.@(p.221, 46) He also believes that by taking Cleon=s side the Athenians will be making a mistake so they should Anot come to the wrong conlclusions through having too much confidence in the effectiveness of capital punishment, and must not make the conditions of rebels@(p. 221, 46) Diodotus does think that the Mytileans do deserve punishment for what they have done, but he does not think that killing is the proper punishment and that is should not be the answer. 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