2. Do you think Socrates is a man who is willing to die for his personal and philosophical beliefs, or do you consider him to be 'playing' the martyr figure in the extreme sense? The former has connotations of personal conviction whereas the martyr-figure, in this instance, to quote a nearby dictionary (Apple's), is "a person who displays or exaggerates their discomfort or distress in order to obtain sympathy or admiration." Can we separate the two?

I believe I am among many people who feel quite sorry for Socrates. Though I do respect him, because he is, as I feel, standing up for what he believes to be right. He accepted his accusations, though wrongly accused, and is leaving himself as an example of the injustice of his people, but will not admit it. He will not betray those whom he is under leadership. Socrates, while attempting to reconcile, may have unobtrusively extended a position of the martyr-figure upon himself. I say this because I do not think Socrates would have been one to purposefully bestow upon others the feeling of sadness or sympathy for him; if anything, he would have wanted respect and an act of compliance from those condemning him. Socrates would only be considered the martyr-figure in my eyes if he purposefully and strongly pressed upon others to pity him. The feelings may come indirectly from others only through his honesty and reason.
Socrates fully intended to be a good person throughout his life, and by educating others without meaning harm, he fully supported those of his students who would want to return to him and chastise his teachings, and question his ways. In no way would he repel their beliefs; he would question them philosophically perhaps, but in the cases of his students, he only wished to broaden their spectrum of knowledge, not shut out their own opinions. He would enjoy talking to others who perceived themselves as intelligent, not to belittle them, but to engage in a stimulating conversation, debate, and come to a better conclusion for both the speakers. Therefore, the court really had no justly way of accusing Socrates of ill teachings and forcing unwelcome information of his students.
Furthermore, I believe Socrates was a studious man that was indeed willing to die for his own, strong beliefs, but in no way intended to be pitied for his fate. He believed that in the afterlife, a good man as he thought himself to be, would not be judged by his own God poorly and sent to an evil place, but rewarded for his goodness that his condemners could not see. He then had no reason to deny his meeting with justice and would willingly die for what he believed in.