Pericles, Funeral Oration

The main theme of the “Funeral Oration of Pericles” is patriotism. Thus, Pericles does not conform to the rhetorical norms of his era. Instead, he focuses on persuading the contemporary audience to be devoted to Athens and defend her with the same vigor as did the men they are gathered to commemorate. Thus, after a few preliminary comments, Pericles begins his panegyric, a speech (or text) of praise. However, his focus is not on the men the crowd is gathered to honor but on the exceptionalism of Athens. He praises the uniqueness of the city-state’s constitution, which “does not copy the laws of neighboring states” but serves as “a pattern to others” (2.37.1). Pericles describes Athenians’ freedoms at length, celebrating democracy by referencing their law-abiding qualities and “ease in [our] private relations” (2.37.3), their education, and their versatility. He also highlights the city’s unique military policy, community celebrations, and open-door policy toward foreign people. He admits that this policy leaves Athens open to spies, but he assures his audience that this is not a threat to Athenians, who are “trusting less in system and policy than [in] the native spirit of our citizens” (2.