My dream by lucian (pdf)

number My dream The text, My Dream is one of Lionel Casson’s writing in the book Selected Satires of Lucian. Lucian had stopped his schooling and his father was seeking the advice of his friends on the next step for his son, with higher education highly argued against. His uncle, who was among the advisers, was a statue maker. Lucian’s father viewed it best for Lucian to join him. On his first day at work, Lucian breaks a slab resulting into a severe beating from his uncle. This causes a great hatred from Lucian towards his uncle. That night he had a dream which seemed to be comparing his uncle’s work to education. Lucian uses appeal to character in comparing the two. In his dream, the two women each states how Lucian will be viewed by others in the society. This clearly shows that what had been running in Lucian’s head was about having an impressive character to his family and his friends (Lucian 42).
The statue making job was well recognized in the society. Great people like Pheidias who made Zeus and Polycleitus who curved Hera were honored for their work. Myron and Praxiteles were also well known. Lucian was being convinced to take up this job because he will be worshipped like gods, his name will be great among men. Knowing that his father was not well reputable and with low income, Lucian is being assured that his father will be envied because of him and his father’s land would be remembered. Education also had its great convincing reputations. Education demotes statue making in that Lucian would just be a mere stonecutter doing manual work, a meaningless person earning very little. He won’t be a great figure among his friends. Choosing education, first, he would know about himself, his soul. He would acquaint himself with the best enhancements for soul (Lucian 33).
Information on the past and the future will also not be a problem to him. He will be able to know on what happened on the past and what is going to happen in the future. He will be changed from lowly, poor boy whose father has nothing to be recognized upon to someone of great honor, respect and envy from others. Wealth and fancy clothes will be his trend. His utterance will be of wisdom heeded by everyone. They will carry a power of its own which everyone will marvel by his speech, praise him for the noble words. They will praise his father for having such o wonderful son. Lucian chooses education over statue making (Lucian23).
Even though Lucian was angry of his uncle which made him choose education over statue making, his dream directly differentiates his character between the two decisions. Appeal to character is greatly depicted in the context. This was more important than emotions or logic. His reputation to his father and the community was all that he needed. He also didn’t need immediate money as he still could depend on his father. Lucian upholds education among young people.
Works Cited
Lucian. My Dream: Selected Satires of Lucian. New York: Diane Publishers 1968, Print.