The setting for this dialogue is the prison on
the day of Socrates execution and, appropriately,
the subject for discussion is the immortality of the soul. The interlocutors
dialogue throughout the day and the execution occurs in the evening. Those
present to converse with Socrates include
Phaedo, for whom the dialogue is named,
Crito, Cebes,
Simmias, and Apollodorus. Notably absent is
Plato. It has been speculated that he avoided
the execution for fear of breaking down emotionally and, thus, disappointing
his teacher.