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Alcibiades concludes his speech by remarking that we cannot liken Socrates to any other person, past or present. At best, we can compare him to a satyr who is god-like on the inside. Alcibiades warns Agathon not to be fooled or seduced by Socrates in the way he has been.
From the most serious speech, the reader goes to a comedic entrance by Alcibiades, a common theme throughout the novel, though most abrupt here. This entrance not only shifts the mood, but also tells the reader Alcibiades’ speech must be considered separate from the other speeches.
Eryximachus demands that Alcibiades take part in the symposium and give his own speech in praise of Love. Alcibiades complains that this would be unfair, as he has already drunk far too much. Besides, Socrates would get jealous if he were to praise anyone other than Socrates in Socrates' presence.
Alcibiades replied: Hail, worthy son of a most wise and worthy sire! The same to you, said Eryximachus; but what shall we do? That I leave to you, said Alcibiades.
In his speech, Alcibiades goes on to describe Socrates' virtues, his incomparable valour in battle, his immunity to cold or fear. On one occasion he even saved Alcibiades' life and then refused to accept honours for it (219e–221c).
Alcibiades begins his speech by reiterating his promise to tell the truth and inviting Socrates to interrupt if he says anything inaccurate. Socrates, he then goes on to say, is like a satyr: just as satyrs charm people by playing reed-pipes, Socrates puts people under the spell of his eloquence.
Alcibiades, notice, accuses Socrates of “abusing” him (Symposium 213d2), and then proceeds to give a speech entirely about human beings, which is therefore as anti-the-philosopher-Socrates as possible.
