Tim Carter
10/19/11
English 298b
Paige Morgan
A Conversation Through Prison Bars
Scene 1: Emma Goldman goes to visit her cousin in jail and instead sees Socrates and ends up chatting it up with Socrates completely forgetting about her cousin.
Socrates: Oh Emma, How are you on this fine evening?
Goldman: I just got done speaking for the WWHG (Women who hate government) convention. I was the key speaker and quite a few people turned up. I see a huge overhaul of the government in the near future. It made me very happy. Now I’m here visiting my cousin who was “disturbing the peace”
Socrates: And how was she disturbing the peace?
Goldman: She was merely informing people about the tyranny of the Obama administration. And how everything that the government is doing is evil.
Socrates: And how do you view the Obama administration and government in general? Would you be willing to lay down your life for your government?
Goldman: Oh hell no! I believe that all government is evil, tyrannical, based on violence, and misdirecting of energy and in no way shape or form would I be willing to lay down my life for the government or the state. I don’t see why anyone else would be willing to do such an idiotic thing. In my opinion, “All government is tyranny.” (Goldman 19)
Socrates: All government is tyranny? How could that be? Governments are here to help, protect, and provide for us.
Goldman: How can you say that government is here to help, protect, and provide for us when government is the reason you are sitting in this jail right now! If it weren’t for government you could be out in the town engaging in conversation with your fellow Athenians. You could be out doing what you love. But instead you’re locked up unjustly. How can you defend such a “black monster” (Goldman 18)?
Socrates: It is not the governmental system that put me here but the men inside of it. I have nothing against for the government and it’s laws. As you know, I have the utmost respect for these laws and what they have done for. For this reason I will not make any attempts at escaping my death even though I am constantly getting offers from friends. I believe that I must be put to death because the law requires it. I have been found guilty and the law requires my death. I tacitly consented to it when I reaped the benefits year after year of being in this city.
Goldman: You fool! Little do you know that it is not even your own fault. I believe that, “Crime is not but misdirected energy.” (Goldman 20) It is the oppressive government that gives people no other option than to commit a crime. Yet you sit here like a child in timeout! You’re just doing what you love, and if you do something that you deem is bad or inefficient then you and only you should be able to punish yourself.
Socrates: You know Emma I would have to strongly disagree with you on that one. I don’t think the government forces us to do anything. The government helps us. If you don’t agree with what the government is doing or it’s policies then you can leave. In fact, “Not one of our laws raises any obstacles or forbids him, if he is not satisfied with us or the city, if one wants to go and live in a colony or wants to go anywhere else, and keep his property. We say, however, that whoever of you remains, when he sees how we conduct our trials and manage the city in other ways, has in fact come to an agreement with us to obey our instructions.” (The Crito 51d) But I have not left. Or protested for that matter. I have made this agreement so I must obey the laws. I am a strong advocate of standing by your decisions and if I just broke out of jail then what would that say of my character and me? Tell me Emma, what would I do without Athens. Athens and I are one. Without Athens I don’t know where I would be. It has had such a huge impact on my entire life. I couldn’t just turn my back on it like Athens didn’t mean anything to me. Emma where would I live? To be perfectly honest I couldn’t live anywhere but Athens. Nothing else would satisfy me.
Goldman: I feel bad for you Socrates. You have no idea what the government has actually done to you; “The state enslaved his spirit, dictating every phase of conduct.” (Goldman 19) I also believe that, “In every instance its aim is the absolute subordination of the individual.” (Goldman 19) The government is just using you. It has locked you up and plans on murdering you. If I were you I would escape this horrific government and start a society where people are free. There will be nothing to trap and enslave their spirits. I believe the “keynote of government is injustice,” (Goldman 19) and you are a perfect example of it. You have been thrown in prison for something is not even your fault. How could you be wiling to die for this black monster?
Socrates: Emma, this is where we differ. I do not think of my government as a “black monster.” I think of my government as my father. It has shaped who I am today and without it, I would be nothing.
Goldman: You speak of Athens like you are one in each other. This is absurd. Humans are meant to be free individuals but they are being enslaved all over the world by governments everywhere. Governments who make them pay taxes, do their jobs, or do military duties. This is not how humans are supposed to live. We should be free to choose what we want to do in life. We shouldn’t be defined by our roles in the city or by our jobs. They should be a minor part of our lives. We should be able to choose when we want to work. Or what we want to do with our lives. Governments enslave people with abusive violence. Governments treat us like animals. You are so willing to be whipped around like a farm animal.
Socrates: I wish that you could see all the good that government has done for so many people. Without government, life would not exist. There would be no one to uphold any order or dignity. It would make savages out of us all. I would gladly lay down my life to preserve this system any day of the week. For the death of one man would be well worth it.
Goldman: I pity your poor brainwashed soul. Your spirit has lied down and accepted defeat. Goodbye Socrates I hope you to see you in the future.
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