The perspective adopted by Thucydides in writing the History of the Peloponnesian War gave his work, on first reading, the impression that his opinion had been withdrawn to provide an objective analysis of the destruction of the Peloponnese. greatness of Athens during the war period. He began with a “medical history” of how humanity structured early societies based on the interplay between fear, interest, and honor. Then we progressed to how the war devolved the great Athenian society. This led Thucydides to move from eloquent speeches on strategy to simpler accounts of impetuous disputes. Thoughtful placement showed Thucydides' opinion on Athens' actions, how he viewed the positions of other city-states on various issues in the book, and emphasized multiple philosophical ideals. In my reading, Thucydides' shift in perspective showed how his ideal culture of argument came through the eloquent language of "The Funeral Oration of Pericles" and why war degraded him to a more reckless reality in “Civil War in Corcyra”. Thucydides loved his city. -State of Athens and wrote his work to analyze the war in order to understand the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the greatness of Athens around him. Thucydides wrote this book and died before the war ended; Even though he found himself amidst the chaos of fighting, he was able to discern and question the decline of the Athenian culture of argument and respect for language. In his writings, a character named Pericles, who in Thucydides' eyes embodied the culture of argument, skillfully demonstrated a gift for rhetoric through the funeral oration delivered for the fallen of the Battle of the previous year. From my reading, the manner in which Pericles carried out his duties as a statesman embodied the ideals of the city-state of Athens at that time was...... middle of paper.. ....n prevented. My reading leads me to believe that it was only a matter of time before Athens collapsed. Unfortunately, nothing can last forever. This inevitability cannot be overcome because to have a true opportunity, people would have to have an infinite amount of knowledge about the situation and the effects of each possible decision. Fortune can only favor a certain entity for a limited period of time. Although it is always tragic that the institution of language has fallen into the hands of such an insignificant enemy as personal desire, nothing can stay forever. Thucydides would agree that Athens' greatness could have been prolonged, but for how much longer?Works CitedThucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Trans. Rex Warner. Ed. MI Finley. New York: Penguin, 1972. Print. Works cited by Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Trans. Rex Warner. Ed. MI Finley. New York: Penguin, 1972. Print.