Cassie
The accounts of Zeno's death illustrate a scene of defiance to a tyrant. The multiple accounts of this event detail him using his last minutes to defy the tyrant and attempt to bring him down. He symbolizes a (somewhat violent) opposition to tyrannical rule, as he even addresses the people, chastizing them for following him for fear of violent opposition. He is cast as a figure in opposition to political and social power structure through the defiant acts of slandering the tyrant's allies and the physical act of biting off his ear (or nose, or his own tounge). He does not simply die in this interaction, he takes some of the power with him.
Anaxarchus' death symbolizes the separation of the punishment of the body from the state of the mind, Anaxarchus' body is beaten and crushed with stones, but the story goes that the mind of the man is unhurt. This illustrates mind-body dualism and the inability of punishment (or death) of the body to hurt the will/mind of a wise teacher. This is conveyed through the narration of his last words "just pound the bag of Anaxarchus, you do not pound himself (27).
Socrates' death also had an element of defiance, as he not only refused to apologize for his so-called 'crimes'; he also conveyed that were he to be freed, he would continue committing them. Another great act of defiance and nobility is his discourse on why the wise man should be unafraid of death. If the punishment for his crime is to be death, it is an insult to the authorities that he welcomes it. He is cast in opposition to the powers of the time in his dramatic delivery of this information as his last speech while on trial for the crime which ultimately led to his death.
The story of Apollonius displays a lack of regret for crimes as well. The man has the opportunity to flee, but he chooses to face the tyrant, as he must not be considered a coward for running. He decides to confront his certain demise. His opposition is illustrated in much the same way as Socrates, though not directly to his persecutors. He is fairly unapologetic and faces death, as all the 'pagan' martyrs in these stories, with nobility, with his head held high.
My only problems with this section is that I found several of the stories too short to get any greatly distinguishing info out of so my analysis might be slightly repetitive, I fear.
The accounts of Zeno's death illustrate a scene of defiance to a tyrant. The multiple accounts of this event detail him using his last minutes to defy the tyrant and attempt to bring him down. He symbolizes a (somewhat violent) opposition to tyrannical rule, as he even addresses the people, chastizing them for following him for fear of violent opposition. He is cast as a figure in opposition to political and social power structure through the defiant acts of slandering the tyrant's allies and the physical act of biting off his ear (or nose, or his own tounge). He does not simply die in this interaction, he takes some of the power with him.
Anaxarchus' death symbolizes the separation of the punishment of the body from the state of the mind, Anaxarchus' body is beaten and crushed with stones, but the story goes that the mind of the man is unhurt. This illustrates mind-body dualism and the inability of punishment (or death) of the body to hurt the will/mind of a wise teacher. This is conveyed through the narration of his last words "just pound the bag of Anaxarchus, you do not pound himself (27).
Socrates' death also had an element of defiance, as he not only refused to apologize for his so-called 'crimes'; he also conveyed that were he to be freed, he would continue committing them. Another great act of defiance and nobility is his discourse on why the wise man should be unafraid of death. If the punishment for his crime is to be death, it is an insult to the authorities that he welcomes it. He is cast in opposition to the powers of the time in his dramatic delivery of this information as his last speech while on trial for the crime which ultimately led to his death.
The story of Apollonius displays a lack of regret for crimes as well. The man has the opportunity to flee, but he chooses to face the tyrant, as he must not be considered a coward for running. He decides to confront his certain demise. His opposition is illustrated in much the same way as Socrates, though not directly to his persecutors. He is fairly unapologetic and faces death, as all the 'pagan' martyrs in these stories, with nobility, with his head held high.
My only problems with this section is that I found several of the stories too short to get any greatly distinguishing info out of so my analysis might be slightly repetitive, I fear.
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