Demosthenes and Philip’s Death

A Rhetorical Approach through the Accounts of Aeschines and Plutarch

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the episode about Demosthenes’ reaction to Philips’ death both in Aeschines and Plutarch, comparing persuasive devices used by each writer when searching for the audience response that each of them wants. Firstly, we will verify the rhetorical strategies from forensic oratory that Aeschines uses in Against Ctesiphon to portray Demosthenes as a threat to community welfare. Finally, we will emphasise epideictic techniques in the Life of Demosthenes, which allow Plutarch to show a much more favourable image of Demosthenes than Aeschines does.