The Works of Aristophanes: an Analysis of Comedy, Commentary and Conflicts

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C. M. Greek History Through Drama The Works of Aristophanes: An Analysis of Comedy, Commentary and Conflicts Western society has been indeterminably shaped by the thoughts and achievements of the Hellenic civilization, from our concept of government and politics to the way we understand love. In fact, the ancient Greeks contributed to the arts in ways that shaped nations for centuries – millennia even – after the crumbling of their own civilization. Throughout the years, much of their contributions to the arts have been lost to time; however, some glimpses into the world of Ancient Greece still remain intact to this day. Aristophanes, perhaps the most celebrated representative of ancient Greek comedy, has been immortalized by his surviving plays which include critiques of contemporary politics, outrageous and merciless satire, and bold humor in the face of conservative and imperialistic city-states. Perhaps the most poignant critiques in his plays are of Socratic thought, the character of populist Cleon, and Athens’ role in the Peloponnesian War. This war, which changed the face of Greece and Greek warfare, endured for 27 years between the city-states of Athens and Sparta. Aristophanes used the war as a backdrop for his plays, using the themes of conflict and peace to convey his own response and commentary on the war; through the careful character development of his protagonists, the change of the “peace plan” or comic hero model in each play, and the evolution of his elaborate and free comedic style to a more realistic delivery, Aristophanes conveys his views of the events leading to the pyrrhic ending of the Peloponnesian War. Specifically, Acharnians, Peace, and Lysistrata utilize the idea of war versus peace as more than simply a recurring motif. These works illustrate the omnipresent shadow of the war in the city-states and reflect the changes

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