In Plato's the Apology, a case is being presented to court: Meletus is accusing of Socrates of wrongdoing in that he busies himself with studying things in the sky and the clouds; he makes the worse argument into the stronger, and he teaches the same things to others. Meanwhile, Meletus is seeking revenge because Socrates publicly humiliated him. .
" One cannot bring one of them into court or refute him; one must simply fight with shadows, as it were, in making one's defense, and cross-examine when no one answers." Socrates is being put on trial and he can't bring any witnesses to defend him because he wants to prove directly to the jurors and make them learn and see what he is teaching is not false. Socrates" life was in the shadows; murderers, cheats, and lies were spread all over. Finally, peoples" eyes are being opened up to what's really going on in this world. Example: Professor turned off the lights for 2 minutes. The lights went back on, people feel pain in their eyes. They need to get adjusted to the lights, whether they want to or not. This epiphany of truth and enlightenment scared many because it was a variation from their standard form of living, and since people do no easily accept changes, rivals of teaching accused Socrates of spreading slander and corruption. .
People should be inclined to follow the path of virtue that Socrates takes versus the vindictive evil of Meletus' actions. For instance, in the story of Ilya, Thetis was willing to die instantly, knowing that was going to happen (his goddess mother told him), than to live "a coward who did not avenge his friends." Socrates is comparing himself to Thetis; he'd rather die than not practice philosophy or follow the way of god. How can Socrates be guilty for trying to persuade "both young and old among you not to care for your body or your wealth in preference to or as strongly as for the best possible state of your soul.
