Thucydides' Elaboration on the Consequences of Civil War
Thucydides elaborated on the consequences of the civil war, which included severe suffering for the affected regions and cities (90). Thucydides emphasizes that the troubles experienced after battle are caused by the character of human beings, and that as long as they stay constant, the outcomes of war will remain constant. Yet, the outcome of a conflict is reliant on the conditions around it and hence takes numerous forms. Thucydides repeats the militarist idea that "war is a brutal teacher," owing to the creative legacy of warfare (90). The concept of creative war is concerned with the idea of individuals accumulating honor and training of the upcoming generation of soldiers (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). Human nature characterizes all the above arguments according to Thucydides as he elaborates that the system of power in the world is what leads to the breakout of war. In Corcyra, it was a pursuit of superiority between oligarchs and democrats (Thucydides. and Woodruff 89).
Obsession with Power Leads to Massacres in Corcyra
Human beings are obsessed with the pursuit of power, and the concept can be explained better if the concept of morality is discarded. In the war on the island of Corcyra, the events had extreme implications on the people, and catastrophic impacts were felt during the time (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). When the Corcyra's people were informed of the arrival of the Athenian soldiers in ships, they asked for aid from the Messenia army to help them. The Messenian soldiers were located on the outskirts of the city and hence they were orders to surround the port of Hyllaic (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). In the process, the soldiers of Corcyra who were Democrats went around killing every individual that was against the Democrats. For the seven days that the Athenian soldier ships were present in Corcyra, the soldiers of the land kept on killing their own people who they perceived to the enemy of the nation. However, in the process of the killings, some of the people were killed based on hatred while other wealthy individuals killed their debtors who had defaulted from paying them back (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). It is human nature to pursuit for power and superiority, and it was clear in the massacres by the Democrats of the island of Corcyra.
Moral Values Discarded in the Massacres
Moral values elaborate the sanctity of life, and in the presence of random and devastating killings due to power differentiation; them morality has been discarded, and hence humans conduct evils that they deem to be just. Corcyrean soldiers then embarked on killing the soldiers that they had convinced to guard their ships. They were all killed by the army of Corcyra, who later moved into the Hera temple where there were fifty sympathizers of the oligarchs. The individuals were ticked into submission to trials where they were then condemned to death (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). The individuals that were yet to be put on trial then decided to all randomly kill themselves, others committed suicide by hanging among other activities to ensure they did away with themselves. Morality was continuously derailed as sons were killed by their fathers, clergymen in temples were dragged out and massacred, and in the Dionysus temple, a wall was built with men inside who were left to die (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90).
The Excessive Cruelty of War and the Role of Allies
In addition, during the end of the war, the soldiers of Corcyra took the prisoners and massacred them in groups. They were put through both physical and psychological torture. They bound the men in groups of twenty and put them down a path whipped and beaten by the guards. In cases that an individual was specifically spotted as an enemy, they were stabbed (Thucydides. and Woodruff 94). In an instance, approximately sixty men were taken from a building, taken down the path, and were killed while the others who were left in the building were in psychological torture of the unknown. In the building, they began to commit suicide since they never wanted to be killed in the hands of the soldiers.
Human Nature and the Eruption of War
Furthermore, the war was excessively cruel, and it was attributed to be so since it was one of the first wars. Afterwards, the whole of Greece went into upheaval leading to quarrels arising everywhere between the leaders of the Democrats who wanted to get assistance from Athenians and the Oligarchs who sought aid from the Lacedaemonians (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). In the period that peace began to prevail, both sides sought to call on their allies to intervene for them in the formation of a new government. The allies were always readily available since it was these processes that strengthened them, and additionally took the opportunity to hurt their enemies.
Human Nature: Boldness, Rationality, and Quarrels
Human nature in relation to the eruption of war and the process of war is clearly elaborated in the war in Corcyra. Boldness in activities of individuals was perceived to be a manliness loyalty while if an individual hesitates due to prudence, they were characterized to be cowards in disguise and hence to be unmanly. If an individual shows true character in being rational and logical, they were perceived to be lazy (Thucydides. and Woodruff 91). The human nature at the time considered being furious as a manhood valor and the plotting of an individual's security to be an excuse for them to have delays in their activity. Humanity nature at the time attributed intelligence to a man that could begin quarrels and pick up fights. Also, the individual that was opposed to the quarreling man was the suspect (Thucydides. and Woodruff 90). Categorically, an individual that designed a plot was seen to be intelligent in the case that there was a success. One who could identify a loophole in the plot was considered cleverer. In the opposite end, a person that observed and proceeded with caution was considered as one who is subverting to the opposite political affiliation and perceived to be frightened and an enemy of their own political side. Conclusively, the human nature at the time praised men that could undertake evil activities at impulses before others did.
Desire for Power and the Eruption of War
The cause of all the evil atrocities, and in addition the eruptions of war was due to the desire of man to rule out of ambition and variance and the desire to win that is attributed to the two. The individuals that led their political affiliations within the cities had a promotion for their policies of both equality and aristocracy (Thucydides. and Woodruff 93). They pretended to have regard for the people, while in reality they were striving for their own superiority and fighting off competition. The bitterness that resulted led to the eruption of wars in revenge by the opposing side. The wars were undertaken without justice, morality, and regard for the good of the public. Each of the political affiliations was eager to satisfy their individual ambitions by either voting or seizing leadership by force (Thucydides. and Woodruff 93). The citizens that did not show allegiance to either side also suffered the implications of the violence. With the city in a state of confusion, human nature accustomed to the violation of laws was the dominant rule. Revenge caused the eruption of the other war, and hence the wars were a cycle. Revenge was perceived to be better since those that begun it was seen to be more superior due to their violation of the peace agreement in place.
Oppressive Rules and Hatred Leads to War
Notwithstanding, the eruption of war could also be a result of oppressive rules by leaders against their own people leading to them rising for their rights. In dictatorial and aristocratic forms of government, the people at times decide to rise up and fight for their rights and freedoms leading to war. By doing so, they violate the laws of the land by undertaking illegal activities. Further, the people in a country could be divided by having different political affiliations with others in support of the ruling leadership while others feel oppressed and in support of the opposing leadership. Differentiation by the citizens could result in hatred, and hence the eruption of war when the people of both sides resort to fighting each other. Violence in the country could lead to multiple deaths but in the end, the oppressed main aim is to ensure their voices are heard in cases that the leadership is unwilling to listen to their grievances and instead marginalize them.
Works Cited
Lecture Notes. "Thucydides The War Begins At Plataea." Lecture Notes n. pag. Print.
Thucydides, and Paul Woodruff. On Justice, Power, and Human Nature. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1993. Print.
