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presentation of the law-courts / democratic institutions - Coggle Diagram
presentation of the law-courts / democratic institutions
essay questions
'Does anything about the popular courts escape criticism in Wasps?' 2015
Is Wasps a play primarily concerned with justice? 2022
In what ways can Wasps be viewed as an exploration of Athenian civic identity? 2021
Do Aristophanes’ caricatures of the elderly have a serious purpose? 2021
How fair is the presentation of Athenian lawcourts in Wasps? 2019
Are Wasps and Knights evidence for widespread disaffection with Athenian democratic institutions? 2019
How serious is Aristophanes’ criticism of democratic institutions? 2018
Does the Wasps offer any reliable evidence for the social make-up of Athenian juries? 2017
old
Philocleon is old, one of his key traits presented quickly in the parodos
logical to assume jurors might be past the age of manual work, as the three obols offered as jury pay would be a good incentive
more able, younger men could earn three times more, even for unskilled labour
the elderly would thus most benefit from the jury pay
however, no other sources emphasise the geriatric age of the jurors, meaning Ari could just be using it symbolically, or to propel the plot
he uses mentions of Marathon or the Persian Wars to connote a former golden age equipped with golden values, that have now been lost from Athens
'if you haven't got a sting, you [should] get no jury fee'
suggests that those who arent wasps (who fought against the Persians) are not worthy of serving on the jury, or at least being paid for it
'the old battalion'
historical facts about how juries worked
a list of 6000 jurors were drawn up every year from men over the age of 30
women, slaves, metics not able to serve due to lack of citizen status
suggests that law-courts were indeed an instrument of democracy
Pericles instituted jury pay
'he had bribed the general populace' (Plutarch)
poor
'i have to buy porridge and firewood and meat for the three of us, all out of my jury pay'
also introduced in the parodos, the jurors live a hand-to-mouth existence
the parodos does little to advance the plot and could have been about a diff topic entirely, so the characterisation as poor is significant
Demosthenes tells the story of Pyrrhus: a man who was no longer a citizen but risked sitting on a jury just to get the three obols pay, fuelled by his ‘poverty'
Isocrates concurs, saying that it must pain good men to see the citizens queueing outside the courtrooms, knowing they may not get selected that day, and would forego their 'daily bread'
may inform the view that the jurors were corrupt, as those of lower prospects would be more vulnerable to flattery and bribery, according to both Aristotle and Old Oligarch in their Ath Cons
jury pay was introduced by Pericles at 2 obols a day, to politically compete with Cimon, who was rich (plutarch). This helped to increase favour with the general populace, and get elected
the Thudippus decree of 425 represents the tribute of Athens compared to the jury pay, so Aristophanes draws upon real economic fact to justify his critiques
corrupt
Old Oligarch believes those of less fortunes are more susceptible to bribes or 'wickedness'
it is agreed by external sources that they are corrupt, and often make uninformed decisions:
'chance rather than justice determined the issue in your courts’ (isocrates)
'they would base their verdict on other considerations than the point at issue' (Hypereides)
'each one of the allies is compelled to flatter the Athenian populace' (Old Oligarch)
'in the courts they protect the democrats and ruin their opponents’ (Old Oligarch)
in Wasps
Philocleon speaks of the power he holds as a juror
'as if I were a god'
'and what’s more, we cant be held to account afterwards, as the magistrates are'
he cherishes the power he holds as a juror, to make major decisions about other people's lives
dog-trial
The first trial: a dog of the house, named Labes (“Snatcher”), has stolen from the pantry and eaten up a loaf of Sicilian cheese
symbol of aristocratic general, Laches, accused of embezzlement or misuse of funds during his expedition to Sicily, hence stealing 'sicilian cheese'
Bdelycleon suggests they stage domestic trials to satiate Bdelycleon's addiction, which he accepts
Another dog, Kyon of Cydathenaeum, presents the accusation
Kyon is Cleon, who must have been the main instigator against Laches
Cleon is often compared to a hound, in
Peace
he is presented as Cerberus, and Plato Comicus also referred to him as 'Cerberus' in an unknown play
possible that Cleon presented himself as a 'watch-dog' or 'guard-dog' of the polis or demos, and political rivals and Aristophanes inverted this comically
Cleon has a loud 'barking' voice, and wags his tail when flattering the people
so undermines Cleon, but also the rhetorical techniques and language he chooses to employ
In his accusation, Kyon admits that the motive of his complaint is not the theft of the cheese: he is mostly annoyed because Labes ate the cheese alone and gave no share to Kyon
It is thus insinuated that Cleon does not care about the welfare of the polis but only about his personal profit
Bdelycleon recognises the difference between the dogs: Labes 'slaves away tirelessly' whilst Kyon 'stays at home' - suggests Cleon is a coward and expects reward from no work
Philocleon is initially very harsh towards Labes:
''No, no! Death - if he’s convicted’
'now, father, I beg you, don’t decide against him before you’ve heard both sides’
shows that jurors thrive off their supposed 'power' and dont truly think of justice
in the parabasis of Wasps, Aristophanes doubles down, and refers to Cleon as 'jag-toothed'. He also refers to himself as Heracles, for being brave enough to confront Cleon in his comedies, recalls the labours
Philocleon will never change
in the last third of Wasps, Bdelycleon is able to take his father to a fancy symposium
this is in contrast to the chorus of wasps, who do not have wealthy sons to provide for them
so Aristophanes may be suggesting that the wasps who have fought for the country deserve such luxuries
however, Philocleon does not act appropriately. He tells stories of an inappropriate nature, he slaps his son, and gets threatened with a court case!
at the end of the play, he is literally spinning out of control in a dance competition
he has shown himself to be utterly incorrigible, and Bdelycleon has been mistaken yet again in assuming his father can change
this is equated to Aristophanes' relationship with the audience, who at this time would have been largely pro-Cleon, as he was in office at this time
so Aristophanes is teasing the audience for their unwavering loyalty to Cleon, but his criticism is not entirely harsh
philocleon is a likeable character, irrepressible and tireless in his obsessions, be it with the jury or with revelry at the symposium
so Aristophanes is careful to coax his audience whilst presenting them as incorrigible