Accusation of Socrates

Socrates had many enemies who were jealous—the Delphic oracle had declared him the wisest man in Greece. Yet he was humble and always ready to learn. Aristophanes, a comedy writer, disliked Alcibiades but blamed Socrates for his faults. He wrote "The Clouds," a play mocking them both. The hero was a spoiled youth who, advised by his teacher, cheated everyone and disrespected the gods. It made Athens laugh for twenty years. When Alcibiades turned traitor, the angry people remembered the play and began blaming Socrates. Socrates himself went to see it, saying, "I came to find out if there are faults I can correct." His enemies finally accused him of corrupting youth and speaking ill of the gods.