Plato paper

/ If I die for doing that, good:/ I will stay with him, my brother;/ and my crime will be devotion" (Sophocles, 82-90, 23), she says to her sister, Ismene. In making this decision, Antigone virtually sacrifices her life but unlike Socrates, she does not seem intent upon death. Death is only something she happens to chance upon.
             Socrates, on the other hand, determined to fulfill his "divine-mission", assumes an overbearing and proud demeanor in court. As a defendant, one is at the mercy of the prosecution and generally tries to convey as much respect as possible. Socrates, however, makes clear that he intends to have the upper hand. With a "tone of uncompromising aloofness" (Apology, 31), the philosopher gives his main defense speech, including what he believes to be the epitimesis (Apology, 31) for his crime. When confronted by his accuser, Meletus, Socrates does not shirk back, but rather attacks him with the "kind of Socratic cross- examination that so many Athenians had experienced" (Apology, 33). Declaring his own superiority and simultaneously denouncing other political figures, Socrates can hardly be seen as gaining favor among the jurors. " One of our politicians appeared to be wise, in fact he was not. Then when I began to try to show him that he only thought he was wise and was not really so, my efforts were resented both by him and many of the other people present", (Apology, 21d, 43) says the philosopher very haughtily. .
             While on trial, Socrates possesses no inhibitions about making his wishes known to the jury. Until the moment in which he takes his last breath, he makes very bold statements considering his vulnerable position. With unwavering confidence, Socrates declares that he feels no need for "flowery language what (the jury) will hear will be improvised thoughts in the first words that occur to (the philosopher) as confident as (he)is in the justice of (his) cause" (Apology 35).