# Polemarchus — The Republic character guide

> Polemarchus in The Republic by Plato.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0005-persons-of-the-dialogue

## Snapshot

The son of Cephalus who catches Socrates in the street and, half in jest, refuses to let him leave without a fight or a feast.

## Who they are

Polemarchus is the young man whose playful ambush—'are you stronger than all these?'—drags Socrates and Glaucon into his father's house and sets the whole dialogue in motion. He inherits the old proverb that justice means helping friends and harming enemies, and defends it with the confidence of a man raised on poetry and tradition. His quick defeat by Socrates clears the ground for the more dangerous challenge of Thrasymachus.

## Relationships

### [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/socrates)

_social_

Polemarchus is the host who initially detains Socrates and engages with him as a philosophical discussant, inheriting his father's argument about justice.

### [Adeimantus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/adeimantus)

_social_

They are fellow participants in the dialogue, acquaintances gathered at Polemarchus's house for the festival and conversation.

### [Cephalus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/cephalus)

_family_

Cephalus is the father of Polemarchus, and the dialogue takes place in his house, which he leaves to his son.

### [Glaucon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/glaucon)

_social_

They are fellow participants in the dialogue, with Glaucon being a more central figure and Polemarchus the host.

### [Thrasymachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/thrasymachus)

_social_

They are both participants in the dialogue, with Polemarchus largely fading as Thrasymachus becomes a primary antagonist.

### [Cleitophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/cleitophon)

_social_

They are both guests at the house of Polemarchus's father, participating in the same social gathering.

### [Lysias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/lysias)

_family_

Lysias is the brother of Polemarchus, mentioned as being present but he does not actively participate in the philosophical discussion.

### [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/socrates)

_social_

Polemarchus is the host who initially detains Socrates and engages with him as a philosophical discussant, inheriting his father's argument about justice.

## In the story

### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/chapters/book-i)

Intercepts Socrates and Glaucon, compelling them to his house; initially defends his father's definition of justice.

### [BOOK V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/chapters/book-v)

Initiates the interruption by whispering to Adeimantus, prompting the challenge to Socrates.

### [BOOK VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/chapters/book-viii)

Mentioned as having contributed to the earlier conversation about the four forms of government.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters/polemarchus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/1497/characters