Download Aristophanes notes 1 08

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Aristophane’s Comedies: Frogs
Structure:
Prologue
Parados*
Scenes after the Parados
Mini Agon
Parabasis
Scenes after the Parabasis
Agon
Exodos
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* some argue that the Frog chorus is part of a false Parados – it depends on whether
they were seen or merely heard.
(Note: the length of the Prologue and the length of the main Agon.)
The play examines the problems of a ‘disintegrating city’. The play does not
end with a celebration. The situation in Athens was too serious. The needs of
the city for men of ability with sound and intelligent minds together with the
plea for reconciliation and understanding are found in the parabasis.
Background to the play.
January 405 BC – Athens was in a parlous state. Spartan forces were
encamped in force close to the city. The coming spring would bring an
attack on the Athenian fleet by combined Spartan/Persian forces.
The previous summer at Arginusae, the Athenians had defeated the attackers
but it had been a pyrrhic victory. After the battle, a storm had created
confusion allowing captured ships to escape, drowning survivors and
destroying Athenian ships.
This had had political repercussions – the Assembly had illegally voted to
execute some of the naval, commanders but this also served to show them
how fragile their democratic system was in reality.
Some years earlier in 411 BC, a group of citizens opposed to the ‘rule of the
people’ and favouring a moderate oligarchy had carried out a coup d’etat
and established a ‘Council of Four Hundred’. Many (about 5,000) citizens of
substance were drawn in but when democracy was restored in 410 BC, many
of these people had lost their citizenship. The moderate vote in the Assembly
had been diluted, the extremist democrats had gained influence and the
enfranchisement of many slaves who had rowed at Arginusae had further
altered the face of the Assembly.
Following Arginusae, the Spartans had offered to make peace but the
Athenians, under the influence of Cleophon and other extreme democrats
had rejected the offer. As a result, Athens was in a parlous economic state –
funds were running out, the currency had been debased, taxes on the upperclasses were high and the silver and gold coinage had been replaced by
‘shoddy silver-plated coppers’.
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The one person who could provide the leadership and strategic skill,
Alcibiades, was in voluntary exile. As a result of previous events, he didn’t
trust the Athenian rulers nor did they trust him.
It was in this atmosphere that Aristophanes produced Frogs. On the surface it
appears to be a bit of escapist entertainment but at every opportunity, he
mentions the problems facing Athens. The lengthy Prologue with the slave
changing places with his master is a political allegory. Further, the moral
value of the play was seen to be more important than the technical merits or
accomplishments.
The politicians, orators and sophists had lost the trust of the people so the one
person who could influence the ideas and attitudes of the public was the
poet.
At play performances and drama festivals, the public listened to what the
poets had to say and it could be guaranteed that more would attend than
would be at the Assembly on a single day. It did seem as though all the great
poets were dead. Both Sophocles and Euripides had recently died.
Thus Aristophanes is saying that the politicians and orators had given neither
wise nor good advice. Thus, the people should listen to their great advisers,
the poets. He proposes that Dionysus, a god of great power (and Athens) be
persuaded to bring back one of the great poets.
At first Euripides seems to be the obvious choice. Over 50 years, his original
way of looking at things, his use of words, his approach to morality and
religion had helped create a modern outlook.
However, Dionysus chooses to bring back Aeschylus. A ‘dry old classic’, he
had fought at Marathon and died 50 years earlier. His plays were slow and his
language ponderous yet majestic. Yet slowly, the audience is made to
realize that on moral issues, Aeschlyus has the advantage.
Euripides is seen to be a clever poet but Aeschylus represents the virtues of
courage, integrity, justice and moderation. They may be old-fashioned but
Aristophanes presents the idea that they, rather than the ability to talk fast,
are what Athens needs.
Woven through the play are Aristophanes words of advice to the Athenians.
He calls for the re-enfranchisement of those stripped of their citizenship after
the oligarchic revolt of 411 BC, the recall of Alcibiades and an end to the
war.
Overall the value of the play is that Aristophanes touches on timeless issues
yet at the same time he provides us with an enjoyable comedy.