Plato's Lost Dialogue

"But...why?" It's a question I must hear at least 200 times a day from my three year old daughter.  She's not happy with my response until I've dug up the root of the answer and waved it in her face. Whilst it might be tiresome, it's also a question which any writer has to constantly ask of themselves: "But why?" I spent a lot of time asking that question before I started my novel.  Years, in fact.  I had a lot of answers floating around in my head.  All of them there.  None of them connected.  Then I started writing, so at least I could start to join the dots together.  For the first 40,000 words or so it worked okay (the opening chapters are focused on two main characters whose backgrounds and motivations are entrenched in my mind).  Then, as a raft of new characters entered the fray, I found myself wading through treacle.  Why are they anti-establishment again?  Why would they risk their life for that?  Why would they know eac...