Understanding Eros

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True Love
Sex has always been an issue of contention, especially on whether it is linked to love. The Symposium focuses on eulogies by various characters who try to explain their definition of love. Plato's speech focuses on Eros and love while describing the conception of desire. Eros is also a term that means love and is also the name of the Greek God of love (Kramer 45). It is possible for true love to exist without sex, even though physical contact is critical to solidify the love that people have for each other.
A symposium is a type of banquet that occurred in ancient Greece, and it was mainly comprised of males. It was similar to a formal drinking party, even though it entails homoerotic lifestyles. Several guests were part of the symposium, including Socrates, Agathon, Aristophanes, Eryximachus, Pausania, and Phaedrus. Each guess gave their eulogy while stating their perspective about Eros and what it entails (Kramer 45). The first speech by Phaedrus is simple and easier to understand. He claims that Eros is an awesome and greatest god. Phaedrus suggests that Eros is why women and men are more willing to do anything for their living without thinking about the consequences. He reveals that "gods, as well as humans, allow lovers every kind of indulgence" (Plato 15). This is why only lovers are brave enough and are ready to lose their lives for each other. Several examples to support this view include Alcestis, Pelias's daughter prepared to die for her husband. The Gods were happy about her brave act, and they decided to let her live. Additionally, Phaedrus also points out that the gods are even happier if the boyfriend shows admiration for his lover and not the other way around. In other words, a lover is inspired by the divine and more god-like. However, these explanations are irrational since it is impossible to bring someone from the dead, even if it is an act of love. Death is irreversible. The erastes (an adult male engaged in a relationship with another make) were only attracted to the eromenos (Kramer 47). In this regard, it is wrong to consider the relationship as god-like, and it was only based on people who wanted to engage in sexual activity.
Pausania also had a different view about sex and love. In his speech, he states that two types of love exist. These are common love and heavenly love. The common love occurs among inferior people, who can be described as bisexual (Kramer 49). Love is only for the body instead of the mind. This type of love is attributed to the younger goddess, who is also part male. On the other hand, the heavenly type of love involves only males, and it tends to entail a feeling of affection that is intelligent and vigorous. Pausania reveals that "the lover's willingness to undergoes every kind of slavery isn't humiliating or reprehensible" because "there’s only one…type of voluntary slavery that isn’t reprehensible: the type which aims to produce virtue” (Plato 16). It entails a relationship between an older make and boys, a type of relationship that would be regarded as pedophilia or illegal today. The view is that common love involves people with a lower IQ, while heavenly love entails individuals with a high...