The Republic · Character

Glaucon

Restless and competitive, he demands that Socrates defend justice on its own merits rather than on the rewards it happens to bring.

major

First appearance: persons of the dialogue

See Glaucon in persons of the dialogue Book page

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Glaucon is the young Athenian who first urges the group to stay for the torch-race and then pushes the discussion past easy morality. He plays devil's advocate with real relish, laying out the strongest case for…

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See Glaucon in persons of the dialogue

Character Web

10 connections

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Relationship types

Friendship
Family
Social
Rivalry

Character groups

Primary Philosophical Interlocutors
Protagonist

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Relationships

Socrates
friendship · positive
Adeimantus
family · positive
Polemarchus
social · ambivalent
Thrasymachus
rivalry · negative
Cephalus
social · positive
Socrates
friendship · positive
Socrates
friendship · positive

Socrates
Glaucon is Socrates's eager and principal interlocutor, pushing the argument forward with challenging questions and requests for clarification.
Adeimantus
Adeimantus and Glaucon are brothers, and they work together to present a formidable challenge to Socrates about the nature of justice.
Polemarchus
They are fellow participants in the dialogue, with Glaucon being a more central figure and Polemarchus the host.
Thrasymachus
Their interactions are marked by intellectual disagreement, as Glaucon aligns with Socrates against Thrasymachus's cynical view of justice.
Cephalus
Cephalus is the elderly host to Glaucon, who is a guest and primary participant in the dialogue that follows.
Socrates
Glaucon is Socrates's eager and principal interlocutor, pushing the argument forward with challenging questions and requests for clarification.
Socrates
Glaucon is Socrates's eager and principal interlocutor, pushing the argument forward with challenging questions and requests for clarification.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Glaucon appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book I
Accompanies Socrates to the Piraeus; agrees to stay at Polemarchus's insistence.
BOOK II
Leads the renewed attack on justice, classifying goods and presenting the social contract theory and the myth of Gyges to argue justice is not chosen willingly.
Book III
The primary interlocutor, agreeing with Socrates's proposals and affirming the logical conclusions.
BOOK IV
Present and in agreement, but less active in this specific dialogue segment.
BOOK V
Supports Adeimantus's demand, encourages Socrates to speak freely, and laughs at Socrates's fears of causing injury with his argument.
BOOK VI
Primary interlocutor; agrees with Socrates's steps in defining the philosopher's qualities and the need for philosopher-rulers.
BOOK VII
The primary interlocutor; agrees with Socrates's interpretation of the allegory and discusses the practical timeline for educating rulers.
BOOK VIII
Primary interlocutor; agrees with Socrates's plan and prompts the discussion of the four governments.
BOOK IX
The primary respondent, agreeing with Socrates's points about the nature of appetites and the generation of the tyrannical man.
Book X
The primary interlocutor, answering Socrates' questions and following the logical progression about imitation and the soul.

Chapter companion notes

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See Glaucon in persons of the dialogue