![]() DiotimaĪ fictional character created by Socrates, Diotima is described by him to be a woman who was wise about many things. Socrates is Alcibiades’ lover and beloved, but has been loved and taught many youth. Alcibiades’ encomium, speech to praise something, is to Socrates, and while parts of it must be taken in jest, most of it illustrates serious points. The image of Socrates as a person, rather than his philosophical ideas, is an important theme of the book, occurring more clearly here than in other works. Throughout the text he praises the others’ words highly (albeit sarcastically in many cases), and is described as ugly and old (the oldest member of the group). The use of Socratic method, questioning in the way he engages Agathon, is characteristic of Plato's socratic dialogues. He begins by questioning Agathon, the speaker previous to him, on the qualities of love. His speech differs from all the rest not only in this respect, but also by its structure. ![]() Had Alcibiades not appeared, he would have spoken last, giving his fictional account of a dialogue he held with Diotima, a priestess from Manitea. Socrates is a main character in the text, whose speech is one of the most important. ![]()
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