Chapter 2 (235-241) Summary

Socrates praises Phaedrus for the passionately delivered speech that also affected him. While Phaedrus is more concerned about the use of language and the treatment of the subject, Socrates is more preoccupied with form and rhetoric. Phaedrus regards repetition in speech as necessary and beneficial. Socrates views the expression in Lysias's speech as vain, failing to incorporate the right treatment of the subject.

Socrates regards the speech written by Lysias to be not as valuable as what others have written on the subject. He wants to deliver a speech with the proper arrangement of points. Phaedrus is excited at this prospect and encourages him to proceed. In the end, he resorts to a threat that he is never to present another speech if Socrates fails to deliver his.

Socrates is embarrassed to compete with Lysias although tempted and compelled by Phaedrus...