Plato's Symposium Author:Plato The dramatic nature of Platos dialogues is delightfully evident in the Symposium. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathons house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. With wit and insight, they each present their ideas about lovefrom Erixymachuss scientific natural... more »ism to Aristophanes comic fantasy. The unexpected arrival of Alcibiades breaks the spell cast by Diotimas ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself. Ecstasy and intoxication clash as Plato concludes with one of his most skillful displays of dialectic.« less