In Plato's Apology of Socrates, what is the gadfly metaphor?

Plato in his Apology for the life of Socrates reminds us that all societies need a “gadfly” to sting the “steed” of state into acknowledging its proper duties and obligations: I am the gadfly of the Athenian people, given to them by God, and they will never have another, if they kill me. read more

A gadfly is a person who stirs up controversy and goads people out of their complacency. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates is a gadfly because he goads Athenians, like a horsefly biting and irritating a horse, regarding their political thinking, showing them that their political thought is worthless. read more

In closing, Socrates points out that the youth he has supposedly corrupted, including Plato, are upright men who still stand by him. Not even the parents or family of these people claim Socrates is a corrupting influence. read more

Socrates. The term "gadfly" (Greek: μύωψ, mýops) was used by Plato in the Apology to describe Socrates's relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian political scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse. read more