Dialogues · Character
Laches
A blunt, battle-tested Athenian general who tries to define courage and finds Socrates quietly dismantling every answer he gives.
supporting
First appearance: Laches
As a supporting figure in Dialogues, Laches is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
A general who initially defines courage as a sort of endurance, but is refuted by Socrates.
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Laches is a soldier's soldier — direct, impatient with cleverness, and proud of a life spent in the field rather than the assembly. He agrees to define courage but keeps running into the problem that his examples are…
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See Laches in LachesCharacter Web
6 connectionsA slice of how Laches sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Extended Cast of Dialogues
- Philosophers and Interlocutors
- Protagonist
+1 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
In this excerpt, the dramatic climax occurs when Erasistratus’s boastful praise of the Syracusan envoy’s immen…
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Laches appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Laches unlock in the free preview.
See Laches in Laches