Encomium of HElen
... upon the “by force reduced” idea presented. Gorgias is saying that if Helen went to Troy because she was “raped by violence” and “unjustly insulted” then her name should be cleared. This paragraph explores the reasons that Helen is the sufferer, since she was forced to go to Troy. Gorgias argues that is it “just therefore to pity her but to hate him” (the raper or insulter). Being “reduced by force” is the reason given in the paragraph beginning with 6 that is later expanded on which is why I believe that paragraph to be of importance. The idea that Helen is blame-free if she was “by words seduced” in paragraph 6 is also expanded upon later in the text; further proving the importance of the paragraph. The paragraph beginning with 8 goes on to say that Helen cannot be rebuked if she was seduced by words since “speech is a powerful lord” that can lead to persuasion. Helen cannot be held accountable for her actions if she was persuaded, for it is the persuader who is guilty,(like the raper,) and “the persuader, like a constrainer, does the wrong and the persuaded, like the constrained, in speech is wrongly charged.” The paragraph beginning with 6 is later referred to again, in the paragraph beginning with the number 15, which expands upon the idea that if Helen was “by love possessed” then it was necessary for her to go to Troy. Helen cannot be held accountable if she was in love, and as Gorgias says, “For if it was love which did all these things, there will be no difficulty in escaping the charge of the sin which is alleged to have taken place.” The paragraph beginning with 6 is important because the ideas presented within are later expanded upon. I feel it is important because it is the point in the text where Gorgias begins to give specific reasons why it is necessary to “refute those who rebuke Helen.” This paragraph is the point in the text when proof for the argument is presented. This paragraph clearly states that Gorgias’ intent is to “free Helen from disgrace.” The paragraph beginning with the...