Abstract This paper explains that playwright Aristophanes, author of "Clouds", instead of speaking in rhetoric as other scholars did in Plato's dialogue "Symposium", devises an entertaining myth about the origins of man. Aristophanes seems to propose an idea of love, free from the virtue; however, the author believes that Aristophanes' stance on love is very different from it appears. Aristophanes begins his discourse on love by describing that there originally were three different genders: males, females and androgynous. The paper analyzes the story and the reaction of the other scholars represented in this ancient dialogue.
From the Paper "Aristophanes begins his speech by talking about the complete human being. The complete human being was actually two of today's human beings, and they were much stronger. This suggests a type of harmony between two human beings that is not seen in the split humans. It is odd that Plato writes that Aristophanes was scheduled to speak after Pausanias, but was unable because of hiccups. Eryximachus then takes his spot and speaks of love as harmonies. I think this is a key to the fact love is seen more in the harmony of the original human beings, rather than in the split human beings that are purely concerned with sex. It is said that these beings are more powerful and have a concept of overtaking the gods."
Abstract In this essay the character of women and their role in Athenian society at the time of Aristophanes is examined. In the ancient world the idea of women running the city was totally ludicrous and people would laugh at the idea. The paper shows that Aristophanes wrote this play to make people laugh and so not much, if any, of the information in the play can be relied upon to give an accurate picture of how women were treated in Athenian society. Aristophanes gave them a very important position but in reality they were treated as second class citizens.
From the Paper "The general idea of the women of Athens running the city was totally preposterous and would not even be considered as a viable option to solve the city's problems. This was because women held such a low position in Greek society. They had no legal status at all and could not even represent themselves in court if they wanted to."
Abstract This paper looks at what is known of Aristophanes and what we can learn about him from his work, focusing on his first surviving play, "The Archarnians," which has been identified as being the world's first anti-war comedy, and "The Knights," considered as Aristophanes' masterpiece because of its direct attack on the all-powerful Cleon. The writer explains how democracy was under attack when Aristophanes began writing, and how much of his work reflects contemporary political and social issues, fearlessly using satire to expose unscrupulous politicians.
Outline:
Introduction
Literary Masterpieces that Challenged a Nation
Conclusion
From the Paper "Apart from his work, little is known about the actual details of Aristophanes life, although it is estimated that he was born in Attica in 445 B.C., and that he moved to Aegina, where his family owned a small estate, during his childhood. It is believed that Aristophanes was educated at Athens and that he may have been a disciple of Prodicus. Considered as the greatest comedian of his age, it was due to his astounding talent that the old Attic comedy was fully developed, and which was marked by the "acquisition of a chorus of masked actors, and of scenery and machinery, and by a corresponding literary elaboration and elegance of style" (TheatreHistory.com, 2008). Nevertheless, his work remained true to both its origins and purpose (Ibid.)."
Tags: strategy challenge satirical artist Greece, Peloponnesian war, culture wit
This paper seeks to understand the impact of Aristophanes' work on the culture of the time. The writer explores what comedy meant in the context of the other aspects of Greek theatre.
Abstract The paper looks briefly at the history of Greek theater and the introduction of comedy. With the coming of Aristophanes the nature and purpose of the comedies began to change. The writer asserts that despite his personal difficulties, Aristophanes managed to convey very definite attitudes and values in his work.
From the Paper "His humor was extremely topical, and he provided a way for people to laugh at the trends of the day. Life in Athens during this period was generally serious; public life revolved around major issues and concepts that were being discussed and explored. In the midst of this, Aristophenes served as a moral alarm that would go off when the philosophers or the politicians became so full of themselves and their own importance that they lost a sense of perspective."
Abstract This paper evaluates Aristophanes's myth and discusses whether it was misleading or not. It explains that Aristophanes's myth is meant to be funny, but it also makes the reader stop and think about the roles we assign to each other as humans and as lovers.
From the Paper "The view of love that Aristophanes presents in his speech is certainly not the most accepted view of love, yet it has its own merit. Love does not have to be between a man and a woman. There is perhaps no more deep and abiding love than that of a parent and child, and this is not based solely on sex or gender, it is based on the love one has for family, and the product of a loving relationship. Thus, the product of a relationship such as Aristophanes discusses should also have a loving nature and yearn for another loving relationship. This is how we recreate our own needs and wants in our children, and this is how love is perpetuated. Aristophanes said that love "tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature" ("Speech" 27). These words could be an anthem to love, and man's ability to love."
Abstract This paper examines how Aristophanes' use of gender portrayal and sex created his most popular play, "Lysistrata". It looks at how the women outwitted and outsmarted the men on all aspects and how they were the heroes and ended the Peloponnesian War after decades of fighting. They ended it by crippling Greece's economic status and weakening the males by means of a sex strike. It shows how, in Aristophanes' humorous battle of the sexes, he proves that women can solve any problem with their brains and beauty.
From the Paper "The alliance of the females, led by Lysistrata, was very powerful. They physically and mentally dominated the males throughout the play and ultimately convinced the men to end the war. The women had the power to seize the Akropolis, where the money reserves were kept, and hinder Greece into spending more money on the war. When the Commissioner approached the Akropolis to gather more currency, Myrrhine acted forcefully and broke a "lamp over his head" (Aristophanes, 63). This shows the physical power and aggressiveness of the women in Lysistrata and their ultimate ability to change the economic status in Greece. "
This paper discusses Aristophanes' ancient Greek comedy "Assemblywomen" especially the prologue (lines 1-277), containing the central interests of play.
Abstract This paper explains that the first scene of Aristophanes' "Assemblywomen" launches immediately into the major theme of the differences, relationships and tensions between the roles of men and women in ancient Greek society. The author points out that, while attempting to seize control over the polis and govern the land themselves, the assemblywomen, especially the female protagonist Praxagora, actually, and perhaps necessarily, assume the physical and mental traits of men, imitating masculine appearances, mannerisms and identities. The paper relates that Aristophanes' use of this gender adoption could be interpreted as (1) an illustration that Athenian women would never actually be able to control the city and its government or (2) a statement that women, who resort to extreme measures to embody the qualities of men, may indeed be able to become powerful.
From the Paper "What is not so clear is whether Praxagora purposely and strategically adopts this persona as a means of eventually attaining the women's goal of a communal, equal, fair-minded city government, or whether she truly becomes the controlling revolutionary she portrays as a result of her dedication to this objective. The answer to this question helps to determine Aristophanes' viewpoint on the prologue and the entire play. If we decide that Praxagora deliberately and tactically assumes a masculine fa?ade, even in front of her own followers, as a route to female political domination, then Aristophanes seems to acknowledge that women who radically strive to adopt male characteristics might very well achieve a rise to power."
Abstract The paper considers "Clouds" as a critique of philosophy in the form of a comedy, revealing the tension between poetry and philosophy. The paper claims that different forms of subversion lie at the heart of the play about the relationship between Socrates and the Clouds, new and mysterious goddesses he has invented with his worship of reason to replace the old Olympian pantheon. The writer presents the explanation of Leo Strauss as to the Clouds' nature, and contrasts it with the writer's own theory that Aristophanes' purpose in writing "Clouds" was to demonstrate that Socrates' philosophizing, in its excess and amorality, is potentially destructive to society and humanity. In conclusion, the writer shows that Aristophanes is revealed as the representative of the Clouds among the Greeks.
From the Paper "Generally speaking, Aristophanes' Clouds represent imitation, indeterminacy and play. They are the Gods of language; they are also the language itself. Celestial signs simultaneously revealing and concealing the heavens. Demi-gods linking the human with the divine. Tricksters that teach men of the proper measure. Now the relationship between the Clouds and Aristophanes becomes clearer: the comedian poet considers himself a representative of those daimons, meaning on the one hand that he re-presents them, reveals them, introduces them and on the other, that he is the sole ambassador of the Clouds among his people."
Abstract The paper asserts that the play shows how different groups holding power in Athenian society gain power and status for themselves by promoting various educational programs that favored them. The author asserts that modern-day educaion is also used as a political tool. The paper explains that a satirical play was regarded as highly in Athenian society as a tragic play was and it gives a background of the period in which Aristophanes wrote the play. The paper reveals that he was concerned with the rise of the Sophist movement and the effect of this movement on educational ideals.
From the Paper "The Sophists ? we derive from the name of their movement the critical English term "sophistry" ? were interested in the use of argument for its own sake, fascinated by the rhetorical ability to split hairs regardless of the reality behind the argument. Aristophanes was suspicious of such men, perhaps hearing in their stance a justification for the rhetorically pretty and compelling ? but dangerous ? warmongering of Athenian leaders."
Abstract This paper examines the concept of "dual love" or the difference between pure emotional love and physical desire, as expressed in Plato's work "The Symposium". This definition is then contrasted to two plays by Aristophanes - "Lysistrata" and "The Birds".
Abstract This paper examines the life of Aristophanes, several of his plays ("Lysistrata," "The Birds," "The Frogs," "The Clouds"), his techniques and his influence.
This paper discusses the image of the Greek philosopher, Socrates, as presented by his student Plato and from the satire of him written by Aristophanes.
Abstract The paper states that the images of Socrates as presented by these Plato and Aristophanes are quite different. The author states that Socrates' student Plato reflects admiration for Socrates, but Aristophanes expresses a contrary view similar to the accusers who brought Socrates to trial. The author states that Plato's view of Socrates is as a follower, but Aristophanes' view is as a social critic.
From the Paper "Socrates defends himself first on the grounds that the charges are not true and then that these charges show prejudice against him. The fact that the prejudice is widespread is shown by the character named Socrates in the play "Clouds" by Aristophanes. Socrates goes to some lengths to describe that play and the behavior of the character to show what the view of him is. He says that Aristophanes may not have intended for his play to be taken seriously, but it is clear that many people have done just that."
Abstract This paper briefly discusses the origins of the Greek theatre and how Greek comedy was distinctive in Athens and became an official part of the Dionysian festivals about 50 years after tragedy did. It looks at how Greek comedy is represented by Aristophanes, the only playwright from the period of Old Greek Comedy whose works survive. It shows how Aristophanes' works were satires directed at specific people in Athenian society. He attacked many political figures in his plays, but he also directed attacks at other cultural figures in Athenian society. It also analyzes how Aristophanes satire was carried in to the Roman era by the works of Plautus.
From the Paper "The theater in its full form came into being in Classical Greece. At that time, the theater was part of a religious festival and so included a number of ritual elements, several of which have been modified for use in theater ever since. Roman theater developed from Greek traditions carried over in the Hellenic period and then transformed to fit the Roman social structure and Roman sensibilities. The two theaters have similarities and also differences. They often use the same myths as source material and give those myths different treatment. The Roman theater also developed new theatrical forms and genres which extended what the Greeks had performed."
Abstract Aristophanes' "The Birds" is a comedy, but it does make a number of philosophical statements about the human condition, particularly the inability of human beings to accept reality for what it is. The paper shows how almost every character in the play (not only human but also bird and god) is shown to be dissatisfied with his or her lot in life and seeks to create a better city or world. The world turns out not to be better, but worse than the reality each seeks to escape. The paper shows that while Aristophanes, from his satirical perspective, may handle some characters more tenderly than others, all are skewered in one way or another as deluded or self-deluded, as alienated from reality. No character is happy and contented with his or her lot, but instead believes that there is some way to control others or otherwise exercise power in order to win that elusive happiness.
From the Paper "However, the play is not overtly political, and the argument of this study remains philosophical rather than political, social, or even ethical. This is so because Aristophanes, at least in this particular play, seems to this reader to be focusing more on the human proclivity to self-centered dissatisfaction with reality in general rather than with the blatantly political. Certainly the subject of trying to create a utopia on earth is present, and that may certainly be said to be political, but, again, the goal of this study is to explore the theme of human restlessness in general, with the tendency of individuals at every point in history and in almost every culture to be unhappy with what they have and to seek something that they don't have and likely will never have. In fact, it can be argued their inability or unwillingness to be satisfied with reality (personal, social, psychological, and political) is the source of their happiness."
