Symposium

Main Characters and Their Development

• Socrates: The main philosopher and central figure of the dialogue. During the banquet, he recounts his conversation with the priestess Diotima, who explains the nature of love as a pursuit of eternal beauty and wisdom.
• Aristophanes: A comic playwright who, in his speech, tells a myth about humans being split into two halves, seeking their other half to become whole.
• Agathon: A young and talented tragic poet in whose honor the banquet is held. He delivers a speech about love as the youngest and most beautiful god.
• Alcibiades: A politician and military leader who appears at the end of the banquet and delivers a laudatory speech in honor of Socrates, praising his wisdom and resilience.
• Phaedrus: One of the banquet participants who initiates the discussion on love, claiming that love is the greatest force inspiring people to great deeds.
• Pausanias: A lawyer who, in his speech, distinguishes between two types of love—heavenly and earthly—emphasizing the importance of directing love properly.
• Eryximachus: A physician who examines love from the perspective of medicine and harmony, asserting that love is present in all aspects of life and nature.