World Literature - The Deluge - A Key Point in World Literature

World Literature - The Deluge - A Key Point in World LiteratureWorld Literature Pericles made a name for himself through his essay, The Deluge. The essay is primarily about Pericles' belief that the decline of Greece would ultimately end the Age of Athens. The essay itself, and the result of the Athenian elections, can be understood by viewing world literature in a particular perspective: Pericles is criticizing the Republic, to which the Essay's title refers.Pericles criticized the Republic for allowing the aristocracy to continue its power and privileges after the civil war, which was fought because of the oligarchic aristocracy. Pericles's focus was on the power of the citizens, and how they were exercising their political power by voting. That this may have been a wrong perspective was likely the primary reason why Pericles wrote his essay.World Literature Pericles was making a very general point about democracy: they aren't always the best solution, and so they should be abused by citizens, and the proper perspective to take away from such an essay. In one part of the essay, Pericles explicitly criticizes democracy as a way to have a formal political system in a republic, but he doesn't make it clear that he believes a republic should exist.Pericles was ultimately wrong in his belief that democracy should be abused by citizens, and he likely knew it. Yet, the essay makes a point about the corrupted nature of democracy, and about how democracy can ultimately lead to tyranny if not exercised carefully.Pericles writes, 'Of all the beasts in the field, men are the least to be trusted.' This article can be understood in this light. Men are the main danger in a democracy, as well as in the case of the Republic.Pericles' viewpoint was really a combination of his beliefs and the views of other men at the time. We might expect that the democratic polity would be corrupt, and that only a republic would be able to maintain a form of government that was more appropria te to the People, and less corrupt.It's possible that Pericles wrote the essay in order to direct his voters to vote for democracy, not republic, in the future. The essay argues that democracy can lead to tyranny, but Pericles himself would likely see that point differently.