KNOW THYSELFenumerates each argumentative turn and describes the rhetorical ef-
fect of their strategies. Socrates uses a variety of metaphors to describe
their wordplay: being struck by a ball (277b), a heavy blow (303a), a skill-
ful dance (276d), a wrestling match (271c, 277d), and even a wild boar
attack (294d). He carefully chronicles his response to their argument
(271d, 282c, 282d, 283d, 286c, 288b, 294d– e, 295e, 301a, 301b, 302b,
303a).
The dramatic context in which Socrates tells this narrative may
suggest something about the overall purpose of the other dialogues
Socrates narrates. Here the pedagogical dimension of Socratic narra-
tive is clear. Crito wants to hear the story because the apparent health
and fl ourishing of Euthydemus, particularly when compared to his own
son, Critobulus, appeals to him (271b). Socrates tells him, though not
without irony, that they have much to learn from Euthydemus and Dio-
nysodorus. He tells Crito that their performance was an “incitement
to virtue” (283b). Crito appears willing to hear what he will learn from
them (272b– d).
Socrates frequently addresses Crito directly (275c, 283a, 303a,
303b, 304c). These direct references underscore the fact that Socrates
tells the story for his benefi t, to elicit a philosophical response from
Crito. Crito’s interruption of the narrative (290e– 293b) also reinforces
his particular presence as the narrative audience. Additionally, the dia-
logue ends with Socrates and Crito in conversation (304c– 307b). This
enacted ending, which parallels the enacted beginning, is the only such
occurrence in the entire Platonic corpus.^35 This enacted conversation
allows the audience of the entire dialogue to see how Crito, a character
within the enacted frame, responds to Socrates’ narrative provocation.
We see that Crito affi rms his love of listening and his willingness to learn
(304c). We also see that Crito is able to separate himself from Socrates’
ironic enthusiasm for Euthydemus’ teaching. He “would rather be re-
futed by arguments of this kind than use them to refute” (304d). We
also see that Crito responds to Socrates’ narrative about his encounter
with Euthydemus and Dionysodorus by telling a brief narrative about a
conversation with “one of those clever people who writes speeches for
the law courts” (304d). In fact, Crito imitates many Socratic narrative
techniques in his mini-narrative. The person comes up to him as he was
walking. Crito asks many questions of him and leads their conversation
to philosophy (304e). Crito also uses the narrative as an attempt to show
Socrates how he might be perceived by others who see no distinction
between the sophistic display he just witnessed and genuine philosophy
(305a– 305b). The behavior of Crito, as audience to Socrates’ narrative
within the dialogue, models an appropriate response to the narrative