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Knights - Coggle Diagram
Knights
Characters
Although not named in the play, the two slaves in the opening scene are recognizable as representing the Athenian generals Demosthenes and Nicias
they were prominent figures in the Peloponnesian War, who were humiliated by Cleon during the Pylos-Sphacteria episode, which is mentioned frequently in the play
D + N did most of the work for this, and Cleon intervened at a late stage before taking full credit for the victory
in the play they are depicted as slaves of a master 'Demus' (demos = people). Thus, their political rivalries are depicted as a sort of domestic fights which an audience could relate to.
Cleon
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Aristophanes saw him as little more than a political manipulator who appealed to the people's desires
in the play, Paphlagos is a tanner, and Cleon did indeed operate a leather industry
In the play, he uses bribes and shamelessly manipulates oracles to flatter his master Demus
Two years before The Knights was produced, Cleon was offended by another of Aristophanes' plays (The Babylonians, which is now lost) and threatened the poet with a lawsuit to try and silence him
In response, the Knights appeared, which attacks Cleon's character
Sausage Seller
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the sausage seller is also depicted as illiterate, disreputable, and from a bad family
Aristophanes chose this character because his bad character makes him perfect to remove the Paphlagonian and take charge of Demus
Knights
the chorus of knights, who provide the title for the play, represent a class in Athenian society that might oridinarily support the program of Cleon, yet here they support Demosthenes, Nicias and the sausage seller
Quotes
"When I had kneaded a Spartan Cake at Pylos, he ... filched it away, and served up himself what had been kneaded by me".
Demosthenes, Prologue
The defeat of the Spartans in the Peloponnesian war (431-404 BCE) was orchestrated by the general Demosthenes. Aristophanes criticised Cleon for taking credit for the defeat of the Spartans.
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"For the character of popular leader no longer belongs to a man of education ... but to the ignorant and abominable."
Demosthenes, Prologue
Demosthenes urges the sausage seller that the line of work as a politician is the correct path for him. The sausage seller is uneducated and from a common background, but Demosthenes insists that these are the qualities necessary of a leader.
This commentary makes fun of the politician Cleon whom the play targets. Cleon was not related to the aristocracy. He used crude language and was criticized as being a people pleaser.
"You devour the public goods before they are distributed by lot."
The chorus, Parados.
serious accusation that indicates the state of Athenian politics, accusing Cleon of stealing from public
"For since what time the war broke out, I never at any time saw anchovies cheaper"
The sausage seller, Episode 2
The sausage seller can quickly draw the senate's attention away from serious matters with the promise of cheap anchovies
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"My little Demus, do you see the hare's flesh which I am bringing to you?"
The sausage seller, Episode 5
The sausage seller steals the rabbit meat from Cleon and presents it to Demus. Aristophanes previously criticised the politician Cleon for stealing credit for Pylos
As promised the sausage seller beats Cleon at his own game, and his theft of the hare meat mimics Cleon's theft from Demosthenes.
Greek Comedy
comedies written in 5th century are 'Old Comedy', and comedies written after 320BC are 'New Comedy'. Those in between are 'Middle Comedy' and contain elements of both
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in this play, mask-makers were too afraid of political backlash to make a mask of clean so Aristophanes played the politician himself
structure of comedies:
comedies began with a choral ode called a parados, and the play was typically named after the chorus, like with this one
after the parados, there was an agon which features a competition or argument between main character
then after this there was the parabis wherein the chorus spoke to the audience to explain aspects of the play
the final scene was usually the exodus, where the chorus sang their final ode, but this is omitted in Knights