HUM 1020
8 March 2024
Pericles in The Universe of Injustice
Superman, the DC hero, and Pericles, the Athenian general, are not so much different
from one another. Both are strong men who advocate for the goodness and well-being of the
public. Pericles was a general and politician who gave many speeches. One noteworthy speech
was during the time of the Peloponnesian War. The speech called for the people of Athens to set
aside all other problems and focus on defending the great city of Athens from the Spartans. As
for Superman, the character is typically portrayed as a righteous and caring hero. However, an
alternate version from the “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year One” timeline takes a different
iteration of the character. This iteration illustrates the choices Superman chooses that lead to a
dictatorship ruling the entire Earth. By analyzing the wisdom provided by Pericles in his speech
to the Athenians, one can apply and evaluate his beliefs when juxtaposed with Superman.
To start, a point Pericles would critique Superman is the hasty decision-making during
moments of distress. In the series, Joker exterminated Superman’s wife and unborn child. In
immediate retaliation, Joker faced retribution from Superman. From that first kill came far more
killings than Superman anticipated. In one instance in the first-year story, an arrow from Green
Arrow bounced off Superman and deflected at another target, Superman’s adoptive father. Due to
the quick anger of Superman, Green Arrow’s life was taken away. Green Arrow is not the only
victim of Superman’s continuous onslaughts. As the years continued, Superman exterminated his
older comrades due to similar circumstances: Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, and many others.
Many of these killings happened right after the adoptive father yearned for Superman to forgive
everyone, as that is how Superman was raised. To that, Pericles would agree with Superman’s
, adoptive father. Pericles holds a similar view to what Superman should be doing as depicted in
‘Pericles Reminds the Athenians Who They Are’ from The Peloponnesian War:
The will is enslaved by sudden and unexpected events, events completely beyond our
calculation. More than anything else, the plague has done this to you. Nevertheless, you
live in a great city and have been brought up with habits corresponding to its greatness.
You must willingly hold out in the greatest misfortunes and not tarnish the city’s
reputation” (Pericles 2).
From this part of the speech, Pericles implies that Athens is a great city that has brought up the
Athenians to be thriving. However, dallying in grief or sadness due to abrupt and uncontrollable
incidents will overwhelm the Athenians and then misrepresent what Athens stands for when
facing the Spartans. With this view, Pericles suggests that Superman should not allow any
emotion to dictate any further actions. Especially after everything the adoptive father has done in
Superman’s lifetime, and of what the father said before passing away. And that is one way
Pericles can see a problem with Superman. By being easily entranced by the heat or sadness of
unforeseen circumstances, Superman disgraces the reputation and wish of the adoptive father.
However, Pericles seems to disregard the human aspect when it comes to these
unexpected situations. Whilst Pericles holds the view of emotions being a burden, it is not
realistic for all to stifle them away. Pericles evades that aspect of humanity, which would not
always be applicable as emotions make people human and emotions can get out of hand as well.
Additionally, Pericles here does take into account the weight of grief faced by the Athenians. For
one, some may be suffering from the loss of family as Superman has, and for others, it may be a
more trivial matter. Either way, Pericles places too much care into the city rather than the people
who make the city. From there, that may lead to revolt due to a rise of animosity toward Pericles,
as the people may not feel cared for. Revolts against the government have happened all over
8 March 2024
Pericles in The Universe of Injustice
Superman, the DC hero, and Pericles, the Athenian general, are not so much different
from one another. Both are strong men who advocate for the goodness and well-being of the
public. Pericles was a general and politician who gave many speeches. One noteworthy speech
was during the time of the Peloponnesian War. The speech called for the people of Athens to set
aside all other problems and focus on defending the great city of Athens from the Spartans. As
for Superman, the character is typically portrayed as a righteous and caring hero. However, an
alternate version from the “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year One” timeline takes a different
iteration of the character. This iteration illustrates the choices Superman chooses that lead to a
dictatorship ruling the entire Earth. By analyzing the wisdom provided by Pericles in his speech
to the Athenians, one can apply and evaluate his beliefs when juxtaposed with Superman.
To start, a point Pericles would critique Superman is the hasty decision-making during
moments of distress. In the series, Joker exterminated Superman’s wife and unborn child. In
immediate retaliation, Joker faced retribution from Superman. From that first kill came far more
killings than Superman anticipated. In one instance in the first-year story, an arrow from Green
Arrow bounced off Superman and deflected at another target, Superman’s adoptive father. Due to
the quick anger of Superman, Green Arrow’s life was taken away. Green Arrow is not the only
victim of Superman’s continuous onslaughts. As the years continued, Superman exterminated his
older comrades due to similar circumstances: Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, and many others.
Many of these killings happened right after the adoptive father yearned for Superman to forgive
everyone, as that is how Superman was raised. To that, Pericles would agree with Superman’s
, adoptive father. Pericles holds a similar view to what Superman should be doing as depicted in
‘Pericles Reminds the Athenians Who They Are’ from The Peloponnesian War:
The will is enslaved by sudden and unexpected events, events completely beyond our
calculation. More than anything else, the plague has done this to you. Nevertheless, you
live in a great city and have been brought up with habits corresponding to its greatness.
You must willingly hold out in the greatest misfortunes and not tarnish the city’s
reputation” (Pericles 2).
From this part of the speech, Pericles implies that Athens is a great city that has brought up the
Athenians to be thriving. However, dallying in grief or sadness due to abrupt and uncontrollable
incidents will overwhelm the Athenians and then misrepresent what Athens stands for when
facing the Spartans. With this view, Pericles suggests that Superman should not allow any
emotion to dictate any further actions. Especially after everything the adoptive father has done in
Superman’s lifetime, and of what the father said before passing away. And that is one way
Pericles can see a problem with Superman. By being easily entranced by the heat or sadness of
unforeseen circumstances, Superman disgraces the reputation and wish of the adoptive father.
However, Pericles seems to disregard the human aspect when it comes to these
unexpected situations. Whilst Pericles holds the view of emotions being a burden, it is not
realistic for all to stifle them away. Pericles evades that aspect of humanity, which would not
always be applicable as emotions make people human and emotions can get out of hand as well.
Additionally, Pericles here does take into account the weight of grief faced by the Athenians. For
one, some may be suffering from the loss of family as Superman has, and for others, it may be a
more trivial matter. Either way, Pericles places too much care into the city rather than the people
who make the city. From there, that may lead to revolt due to a rise of animosity toward Pericles,
as the people may not feel cared for. Revolts against the government have happened all over
