Conclusion

The Conclusion falls into two halves. First, it briefly surveys the immediate historical context of Demosthenes’ Letters from self-imposed exile in or near Troezen, the subsequent Lamian War against the Macedonians, and Demosthenes’ death. It then concisely examines a key passage from the Second Letter as part of a brief exploration of the possibility that Demosthenes was (or became, later in life) genuinely invested in the historical models he used for strategic purposes in his speeches. The Conclusion then turns to look succinctly at the place of Demosthenes’ deployment of the past in his overall oratorical profile and subsequent legacy. A key aspect of the legacy formation is probably his nephew Demochares’ political imitation of his famous uncle. The second half of the Conclusion summarizes the content of each chapter and draws together the themes of the work as a whole, re-emphasizing the strategic possibilities and rewards—and potential pitfalls—which awaited orators in presenting the Athenian past to their audiences.