06.12.06 - Gorgias' Emphasis in the Encomium of Helen

What does Gorgias emphasize? Why is this significant to both classical rhetoric and contemporary teaching?

In considering what Gorgias emphasized in the “Encomium of Helen,” there are two ways that I can interpret the question: what he is emphasizing in content (meaning) and what he is emphasizing in style. I will address both of these points, individually.

What Gorgias seems to be emphasizing in his message is that truth is not always (or never) one-sided. This is to say that there are perceived truths. Specific to the story of Helen, she was blamed for beginning the Trojan War by leaving her husband, King Menalaus, to be with Paris, Prince of Troy. Gorgias’ argument is that she is not solely to blame for this action; Paris may have forced her or persuaded her, she was wooed by love, even the gods had a part in making her go to Paris … errr Troy, With Paris.

The significance of Gorgias’ argument in contemporary teaching is in the message, almost a moral: to not immediately take a given truth as the ultimate truth. “There are two sides to every story,” is the phrase that comes to mind. While one should speak the truth, there can be different versions of the truth from different people involved in a situation, especially when there is blame involved (as in the tale of Helen).

Quick example: if I say my car is in the garage and it has since been stolen, I am not lying. Admittedly, there IS a more ultimate truth that my car is not in the garage. However, when one enters blame into the argument, such as I am to blame for my car being stolen, since I left the keys in it or I left the garage open, there could be certain other truths that are being denied. The thief might have used tools that allowed entry into the car/garage, I may have had all locked but the thief had a forged key from some previous interaction with me (neighbor, mechanic, friend?). Also, there should be something said about the expectation of safety of ownership when it is my car in my garage. Perhaps I am stretching with this on-the-fly analogy, as I already see flaws in it; but, I hope the point of my example is understood.

Gorgias, who compared the power of language to that of magic and drugs (B/H 43), puts this idea into action in the Encomium of Helen. What Gorgias emphasizes in style is a very flowing poetic language. He entrances and even intoxicates the reader by his use of such poetic captivating prose. Consider the following lines:
• … it is an equal error and mistake to blame the praisable and praise the blamable. (Line 1)
• Who it was and how and why he sailed away, taking Helen as his love, I cannot say. To tell the knowing what they know shows it is right but brings no delight. (Line 5)
• … or by force reduced or by words seduced (or by love possessed}

These lines, so flowing, poetic, and beautiful (pathos) are also very strong and insightful in meaning (logos). Throughout the Encomuim, Gorgias seems to largely be emphasizing the power of language to persuade. There is an interesting duality of this point in the Encomuim, as he is using highly persuasive language to show that Helen was strongly persuaded.

The power of language to persuade is generally one of the points attributed to rhetoric. In this way, it is an important concept to apply to teaching. Doing so will help students learn to shape their own arguments to capture and direct the power of their language.

Couldn’t resist a little Gorgiasian closure:
From Time to the wise and sure, Gorgias’ , you truly impart a sword to us. And to the naysayers, critics, and bettors, we 5364 sophists are Rhetors. So, we graciously accept your gift sword and acknowledge that “Speech is a powerful lord.”