Assesment Of The Apology
...Athenian jury for his suspected crimes of heresy, sedition and corruption of the youth. It is also at this point that the final verdict on Socrates is presented and he is offered to defend himself. During this scene, Meletus also ask the jury for Socrates to be put to death and Socrates refuses to beg for mercy and continues to state that he has committed no crime for which to be punished.
As stated above, Socrates verdict has been reached and the jury has found Socrates to be guilty as charged with a vote of 280 to 221, and Meletus’ ask for Socrates to be put to dead. Instead of being angry or upset with the verdict Socrates explains that he is surprised so many of the juror’s casted votes for his innocence. He then explains that by the sheer number of votes cast for him, he believes, that he has been cleared of Meletus’ charges. Socrates also states that without the help of Anytus and Lycon, Meletus’ would have been charged a thousand drachmas for not receiving a fifth of the vote.
At this point, Socrates is asked by the jury to offer an alternate form of punishment besides death. Socrates responds to their request by saying that he does not believe he should be punished, because he believes he has committed no crime. Instead, Socrates exclaims that he should be rewarded by the jury for his actions, not punished. Socrates states that for his actions he should have the honor of dinning in the Prytaneum, which is the town hall of Athens where victorious Olympians are entertained and fed on their return home, because it is much more suitable for him than any man in Athens who has gained victory through a team of horses. Socrates then explains to the jury that he is not saying these words out of arrogance, but rather because he has done no wrong to anyone, because he is incapable of causing harm to anyone. Socrates tells the jury that the reason they believe he is...
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