After Socrates' imprisonment, it recounts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito of Alopece about justice, injustice, and the proper response to injustice, which is recounted in the Apology. Socrates feels that injustice should not be met with more injustice, personifies the Laws of Athens to demonstrate this, and rejects Crito's offer to help him escape from prison in Crito. A classic articulation of the social contract theory of government can be found in the debate. The meaning of Crito is discussed in modern debates to decide if it is a request for absolute obedience to a society's laws.



Crito is considered to have been published in 399 BCE and is based on a historical incident. Socrates has been imprisoned for four weeks since his trial in Apology and will be executed in a matter of days. Historians are unsure of Socrates' exact position, but archaeologists estimate it to be approximately 100 metres (330 feet) southwest of the Heliaia court, just beyond the agora site. Because it is a literary work, the historical authenticity of what was stated and how much of Plato's depiction of Socrates matches with his genuine beliefs is unknown. In the storey, there are only two characters: Socrates and Crito.