Phaedrus Literary Analysis

Books are an important part of life in the developed world, and a love of reading from a young age is a common trait of modern intellectuals. However, this was not always the case. In Plato’s Phaedrus, the principal speaker, Socrates, argues that the written word, a relatively new invention in Ancient Greece, was not to be mixed with academia, as it would only induce forgetfulness, superficial wisdom, and a lack of deep thought in its readers. Although Socrates’ reasoning on this subject has not held up to the test of time, Phaedrus provokes its twenty-first century audience to consider whether or not teaching children an adoration of reading from a young age is integral, and if books are dying forms of entertainment, especially as reading

While Plato’s Phaedrus takes place in Ancient Greece, a period when information was primarily exchanged orally, in modern society, reading and writing have become so integral that this approach is no longer feasible. In Phaedrus, Socrates criticizes written words’ lack of life, and remarks, “The offsprings of painting stand there as if they are alive, but if anyone asks them anything, they remain most solemnly silent. The same is true of written words” (Plato 80). Socrates fails to realize that writing’s lack of life is invaluable because it cannot be wiped away by time, and it has the ability to outlive its creator: traits that have helped it remain a relevant tool over the years. Because books have been such an important part of preserving information over time, many fields of knowledge have been developed through books alone. Even when new forms of knowledge or entertainment are created through current technology, such as television or video games, a core of writing is still involved. For example, a television show would lose all substance if it didn’t first have a screenplay; likewise, a video game would struggle to be memorable if it lacked thought-provoking plot and dialogue. Furthermore, social media posts on the Internet would hold little appeal if creators weren’t able to use language in an innovative

In Phaedrus, Socrates shares an Egyptian story about the god Theuth, who invents writing, and King Thamus, who believes that the written word will only have negative effects on those who use it. In the story, Thamus claims, “[Writing] will introduce forgetfulness into the soul of those who learn it: they will not practice using their memory because they will put their trust in writing, which is external and depends on signs that belong to others, instead of trying to remember from the inside, completely on their own” (Plato 79). Socrates agrees with Thamus, and suspects that reading and writing would indeed cause attentive minds to become forgetful and unknowledgeable. Similarly, those who think that books are a dying breed find little use in reading books regularly, and believe that time is better used for other pursuits. However, according to education specialists Wade Fish and Jennifer Duffy of Northcentral University, reading improves memory and concentration skills, and is an imperative skill in learning to communicate (“Reading Improves Memory”). Fish and Duffy also stress “the vitality of reading to children on a daily basis” to “stimulate their thoughts and awaken their intellect” (“Reading Improves Memory”).