The real irony of the story is a historical context I think most readers these days miss: that when the real Plato paid court to a ‘king’ - Dionysius II, tyrant of Syracuse—it went very poorly. Plato was arrested, and barely managed to arrange his freedom & return to Athens.
Twice.
And supposedly Plato was sold into slavery by the previous tyrant.
The real irony of the story is a historical context I think most readers these days miss: that when the real Plato paid court to a ‘king’ - Dionysius II, tyrant of Syracuse—it went very poorly. Plato was arrested, and barely managed to arrange his freedom & return to Athens.
Twice.
And supposedly Plato was sold into slavery by the previous tyrant.