The Crito and the Letter from Birmingham Jail exemplify the complex nature of the obligation of the citizen. Although both pieces discuss the obligation of the citizen and seem rather similar on paper, both are inherently different. The Crito takes a more literal approach while the letter from Birmingham jail takes a more figurative stance. The Crito is a dialogue that takes place in Socrates’ prison cell as he awaits his execution. Socrates was wrongfully accused for “failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges” and “introducing new deities”. The dialogue begins as Crito, one of socrates’ good friends, enters the jail cell to let Socrates know that he has devised a plan to smuggle him out of prison. Crito tries to reason in saying that Socrates’s death will reflect poorly amongst his friends and peers image, and that Socrates shouldn’t worry about the risk or financial burden that is put on to those who are helping him. Crito would then …show more content…
He goes on to state that the citizens of Athens are bound to laws like a child is bound to a parent, and by going against the law is like a child reprimanding a parent. Furthermore, Socrates states that the laws are like a social contract amongst the citizens that live in that area in that you agree to abide the laws by living there. Socrates reinforces this idea by saying that he has lived a content life thus far and by breaking from prison now, he would be breaking that social contract that no other society would want him. And when he dies after living a life of exile, he will be harshly judged in the underworld for acting unjustly toward his citys laws, and with that said, Socrates convinces Crito that it would be better he not escape and accept his