Socrates & Maria Clara

Hello everyone! :) I'm taking a Philosophy 101 class, as well, and we just finished learning about Socrates. (Although I really wouldn't like to call it "learning" because, no offense--although it would still be taken offensively--this professor does not do Socrates justice. Or any other topic, as a matter of fact. But this is beside the point...) In English class with Mr. Aronson, we have been discussing several poems on a woman/concept named Maria Clara. I would like to take some time to jot down some similarities between these two people. 

To those who do not know, Maria Clara is a character created by Jose Rizal, in a novel called Noli Me Tangere. She was a Filipina who was known as the "ideal woman" in the Philippines. She was portrayed as chaste, the epitome of virtue, a faithful sweetheart, a good friend, and an obedient daughter. Maria Clara was highly appraised and everyone idolized her. But her "masochistic", and "easily fainting" character was also criticized as the "greatest misfortune that has befallen the Filipina in the last one hundred years". This is because this whole concept was forcing Filipino women into molding into a Maria Clara.

As a young girl, she would practice religion. When she grew up, she convinced a man named Padro Damaso (who so happened to be her biological father as well) to send her to a nunnery. I think of this nunnery as a prison, for although she chose it, she was alone and trapped. Padre Salvi, the convent's spiritual director, ended up raping her. Unfortunately, through the years of pain, she died in the convent. 

So no thanks to my Phil professor, I will inform you on what I kinda-sorta read about Socrates.  He was a Greek Athenian Philosopher, credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy. Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics. His students, especially the ones who stuck with him throughout everything: Plato and Xenophon, adored Socrates. They really enjoyed his teachings--slightly talking about religion also, and he was looked up to. But plenty of people thought of him as corrupting the youth--one of the many charges ghat put him to trial.

He was guilty and put into prison, and willingly chose the hemlock for his punishment. Socrates drank the hemlock, a highly poisonous plant, and was instructed to walk around until his legs felt numb. Then after a short while, he quietly died. 

This  picture  depicts  Socrates  (in
white) taking his hemlock to drink.

An animated portrayal of Maria Clara at the nunnery. She is wearing--a now popular amongst Filipinas"--Maria Clara" dress that symbolizes the virtues and nobility of a Filipino woman.

The similarities I see: 

• Her virtue vs. His ethics
• Idolized
• But had negative influences
• Religious practice
• Maria Clara's nunnery vs. Socrates' prison room
• Died within these "prisons"

Agree? Disagree? It's all good! I'm not the Philosopher type. But thanks for reading, everyone! Ta-ta for now. :)