Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Socrates

We think it's fair to say that Socrates isn't just the protagonist of the Republic and the rest of Plato's dialogues; he's essentially the protagonist of Western philosophy. His devotion to skepticism and to ruthlessly examining every aspect of human life has turned him into a hero for philosophers, literary scholars, and anyone who's just down to think.

That's probably not a role Socrates would be that uncomfortable with—we didn't say he was the hero of modesty. As we mention in our "Plot Analysis" section, Socrates is definitely aiming to give philosophy some epic qualities. And since every epic needs an epic hero... well, Socrates is up for the job.