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Importance of polis in Comedy - Coggle Diagram
Importance of polis in Comedy
Roles in society
Scholars
MacDowell - Xanthias has greater strength of character than ant slave in theatre
MacDowell - Even though arinusae was won, the events must have cast a gloom over athens
Women
There are few female characters, however their position in society is still relevant to the play
Aescylus accuses euripides of damaging athenian society by depicting wicked women
Dionysus claims euripides wife was adulterous
This will have been a touchy subject for the audience, as adultery was very serious to athenian men
Slaves
Xanthias overturns traditional ideas of slaves
He matches dionysus strength when they are being beaten
He outwitts dionysus a lot, especially outside plutos house
He is braver than dionysus in the underworld
he insults his master directly
Refers to battle of arginusae quite a few times
After this battle, there was a decision to free all the slaves who fought
This reminds us and the audience that athenian society depended on slaves
Xanthias tells us he didnt fight at the battle
Xanthhias also shows concern with slaves
He is shown to gossip and go against dionysus when he is with plutos slave
This shows a traditional stereotype of slaves misbehaving when they are able to get away with it
Political ideas and ideals
Frogs was produced at a dark time in athenian history
It was produced when defeat from the peleponesians seemed likely
The audience of frogs will have been aware of this when watching
This makes the message of the play more poignant, as aristophanes is tellling athens they need to return to their old ways
Aescylus repeatedly says that his works contain values that made athens powerful
The chorus create nostalgia in the parabasis
Parabasis - when the chorus directtly adresses the audience
They compare politicians to coins
This contrasts old coinage to the new currency athens are using
During this period of weakness, athens resorted to bronze coinage, which is a lot less pure than their former silver coinage
This will have been a humiliating reminder to athenians of their formner glory
Scholars
Dover - Athens past period of security and prosperity contrasted the discomfort they felt now
Redfield - Aescylus' victory is a rejection of the new lifestyle and a return to the old
Cartlede - The chorus offers serious advide
Greek context
Jokes in comedy are aimd at social and political members
Jokes are made about family
Comedy explores daily life in the polis