Xanthippe

Xanthippe was the wife of Socrates and mother to their three sons, Lamprocles, Sophroniscus, and Menexenus. She is primarily remembered through accounts of classical writers like Xenophon, Plato, and Plutarch, which portray her as shrewish and ill-tempered.

While historical accuracy is difficult to ascertain due to the subjective and anecdotal nature of these accounts, Xanthippe's name has become synonymous with a nagging or scolding wife. Xenophon, in his Memorabilia, depicts Socrates as claiming that he chose to live with Xanthippe specifically to temper his own character, suggesting that dealing with her difficult temperament was a form of moral training.

Plato's accounts generally present a more neutral, or even sympathetic, view of Xanthippe, particularly in the Phaedo, where she is shown weeping at Socrates' impending execution. This suggests a loving, albeit perhaps volatile, relationship.

Later philosophers and writers have offered varying interpretations of Xanthippe's character. Some argue that the negative portrayal is a misogynistic trope used to denigrate women, while others suggest that her behavior might have been a reaction to the unconventional lifestyle and financial instability caused by Socrates' philosophical pursuits. It is important to note that these accounts are filtered through the perspectives and biases of men writing in a patriarchal society.

Ultimately, little concrete information is known about the real Xanthippe. The enduring image of her as a scold is largely based on anecdotal accounts and interpretations that have shaped her historical reputation.