The Friend in the Dark

It is the morning before Socrates is to be executed. His old friend Crito has come to the prison before dawn. He has arranged an escape. Socrates, as always, wants to think it through carefully first. The dialogue that follows is condensed from Plato’s Crito, but every argument the two men make in the original is present here.

Socrates woke to find his friend Crito sitting quietly beside him in the dim cell. It was very early, still dark outside.

“How long have you been here?” Socrates asked.

“A while,” Crito said. “I did not want to wake you. You were sleeping so peacefully. I have been sitting here watching you and marveling at how easy your sleep was. I have been awake most of the night.”

Socrates smiled. “Because it would make no sense to be upset, Crito. Not at my age.”

Crito leaned forward. “Socrates, I have to tell you something. The ship from Delos will arrive today or tomorrow. When it does, you will be executed.”

“Then that is when it will be,” Socrates said.

“That is why I am here,” Crito said. “I have made arrangements. You can get out of here tonight. I have friends, money, a safe place for you to go. Everything is ready. I have come to ask you to let me help you.”

Socrates was quiet for a moment. “Crito, your concern for me is touching. It really is. You have been coming here every day. We need to think about this carefully, you and I. Not whether it is possible for me to escape. Whether it is right.”

“You are going to die,” Crito said. “That is what I know.”

“That is not the question,” Socrates said.