To elaborate, Socrates??™ speech is regarded as successful because his philosophies appeal to an innate sense of morality and freedom that have been deeply ingrained in our modern democratic society. The metaphor and self-referential analogy ??? a kind of gadfly to a big generous horse, rather slow because of its very bigness,??? as a critique of the inefficiency of Athenian democracy, retains relevance to today??™s world where many ??? democracies??™ are highly oppressive and lack moral integrity, such as Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Russia. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of the triplets ??? wealth and honour and glory??? with ??? judgement, truth and the soul??? still raises questions about the modern world??™s ever-increasing materialism and the corresponding descent into spiritual apathy. The paradox ??? If you put me to death, you will not be doing greater injury to me than to yourselves,??? is reflective of contemporary society??™s appreciation that freethinkers like Socrates have been valuable to the social, political and intellectual progress of humanity. This is reinforced by the oxymoron ??? to be good cheer about death,??? which can be related to modern day freedom-fighters unintimidated by state brutality such as Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Dalai Lama. Hence, Socrates??™ speech stands today as a masterpiece of philosophical rhetoric which resonates the universal values of individual sovereignty and moral integrity, appealing to our modern enshrinement of civil liberties and the transparent rule of law.
Similar to Socrates, Goldman??™s Address to the Jury (1917) altruistically appeals to a jury on grounds of morality, self-determination and free speech. WWI America was a politically charged society that highly valued patriotism and Goldman was eventually put on trial for her anarchist, anti-conscription activities. From the outset, she uses satire and logic to attack the intolerance of the conservative American government.
She satirises Marshall McCarthy and his men using sarcasm: ?????¦wielding not a sword, nor a gun or a bomb, but merely their pens! Verily, it required courage to catch such big fish!??? This condescending tone and pen vs. sword metaphorical imagery highlights the heavy-handedness of the government, undermining its moral authority. Furthermore, the use of tricolon in ??? Progress is ever renewing, ever becoming, ever changing??? reinforces the depiction of American law and society as very narrow-minded and stagnant. Goldman uses the anaphora ??? never within the law??? to describe the American, French and Russian Revolutions and freethinkers such as Socrates, Galileo, Bruno, and most notably, Jesus. Her daring juxtaposition of herself with this sacrosanct figure highlights her insightful assertion that progressive ideals have always martyred their advocates.
Through this, Goldman asserts her own moral duty to challenge an unreasonable social status quo, but inflames the conservatively biased jury to disregard her profound but humiliating logical assertions. Despite not being acquitted, her stunning repartee serves as an enduring testament to the principles of morality, self-determination and free speech.
