Crito

The Socrates that Plato presents in Crito is both a representation of a historical figure and a literary character. How does Plato characterize Socrates? How does it help Plato’s purpose in writing a dialogue like Crito to characterize Socrates in this way?

Just as Crito’s Socrates is a literary character, so too is its Crito. How does Plato characterize Crito? In your analysis, pay close attention to how Plato compares and contrasts the characters of Crito and Socrates.

Although there are only two actual speakers in Crito, Socrates invents a third character—the laws of Athens. Why does Socrates personify the Athenian laws? Why does Plato choose to have his character Socrates invent a new character, the laws, as opposed to having Socrates make his own points?

Socrates’s imminent execution looms over Crito. What role does death play in the dialogue? Make sure to use specific examples or support from the text.

One of the charges brought against Socrates in his trial was impiety. What is piety and impiety? And what role do piety or impiety play in Socrates’s arguments in Crito?

The first portion of Socrates’s arguments against Crito consists of an analogy to physical fitness. How successfully does this analogy support Socrates’s argument, and how does it play into the arguments he makes in the latter half of the dialogue?

Socrates speaks often of what is “just” or “unjust.” According to his arguments within Crito, how would Socrates define “justice”? Make sure to use specific examples or support from the text.

When Crito first approaches Socrates about the plan to escape, they disagree on the timing of Socrates’s execution. Socrates bases his estimation on a dream. How do this disagreement and the contents of Socrates’s dream play into the arguments that Socrates makes later in the dialogue?