In his funeral oration, Pericles proudly pointed out aspects of Athenian democracy that he viewed as not only unique, but truly revolutionary. While he addressed a wide variety of elements, he fundamentally believed that their success in each field could be traced back to the mere demeanor in which each citizen viewed his role in society. Athenians, through their profound sense of unison and collective nature, set themselves apart from members of surrounding city-states and established Athens as an eternal reference point for future democracies.
Pericles fittingly begins his speech by honoring those who had fallen in battle, but he does so in an unorthodox way. Typically, funeral orations given in such times would emphasize notable military accomplishments, but Pericles felt that it was a subject too “familiar” (73.19) to the citizens in attendance and opted to shift the focus to Athens’ “spirit”, “constitution”, and “way of life.” (73.22-23) Right from the onset, he pointed out that their constitution was a democracy - an entirely new form of government up to this point in history. After being ruled by strict regimes for so long, the people were finally empowered. This new, less biased framework of rule was fundamental to the development of sincere camaraderie that every Athenian citizen possessed within them. Many people today, most likely due to cultural upbringings, assert that they are entitled to a number of rights simply because they are living, not necessarily contributing, members of society. That notion of expecting essentially unwarranted privileges did not exist in ancient Athens. Everything the Athenians did was to live up to the high standards of their city; they did not want to please themselves, but rather to truly earn the right to be a part of this admirable community.
A prime example of the manner in which societal relations were conducted in Athens is conveyed through their method of acquiring friendships. Instead of waiting to be pleased by someone else, they constantly attempted to take the initiative and “do good to others.” (75.15) This unselfish outlook is even more prevalent by their instinctive desire to continue enacting goodwill towards people already indebted to them in order to maintain their gratitude. However, a welcoming atmosphere was not restricted from outsiders. While every other city-state would rightfully be hesitant to embrace foreigners in fear of divulging crucial military tactics, Athens had absolutely nothing to hide. Athenian soldiers achieved victory on the battlefield not through powerful weapons or ingenious strategy, but the size of their hearts. The key to their success lay in the fact that while they were not well-trained warriors, they had “more at stake than there [was] for others who [lacked their] advantages.” (76.6-7) Their “natural rather than state-induced courage” (74.30-31) veraciously exemplifies the character of Athens. As opposed to viewing ignorance, particularly in politics, merely as disinterest, all citizens were expected to engage themselves. However, it was never mandated; individuals ultimately chose to partake. That strive for pursuing knowledge and taking responsibility for the implied accountability they were bestowed with is the root of what made Athenian democracy thrive.
Athens installed an unconventional system of government that would have normally been doomed to failure. Unlike other nations, the city-state flourished. In his funeral oration, Pericles chose to honor the fallen by touching upon the unique stances that Athenians developed on friendship, war and politics that embody their people’s superb nature. Those specific aspects of Athens’ society, culture and government represent the central principle of accountability that Athenians lived and died by.
lol, I was expecting a YT link, not a college paper [my first, btw :')].