Will learn just how corrupt and unfair the court has become
Shows his protean nature – learnt his lesson & doesn’t want to go back to court
Exodos
Procleon cannot be restrained
Shows how physical he is
Frogs Ways in which Frogs presents a divided, rancorous and dying city
The god of the theatre and the city has forgotten his identity
Son of Jug
Changes roles with Xanthias 4 times in 200 lines
Visual confusion between yellow nightdress and club and lion skin
Doesn’t realise that the chorus of Mystae are calling him as ‘Iacchos’
Appeals to his own priest in the audience in fear of the Empousa
The protagonist and the deuteragonist are of equal importance at first The slave is as important as the master or the god The god of a naval power doesn’t know how to row Hades is confused with Athens
the Athenian audience is confused with the perjurers and murderers in Hades
Theseus, an Athenian, has brought the idea of inflation down the Hades
Rampant wartime inflation is apparent when the corpse demands two drachmas to carry the luggage – “I’d rather live!”
Fighting breaks out in Hades when Euripides arrives, mirroring the war ‘up amongst the dead men’ and the sophistical confusion encouraged by his plays
The structure of the play mirrors the divisions in the city
The first half is dominated by the motif of the quest, the second half by the motif of a debate
The theatre has forgotten its teaching role
“The ship of state drifts all over the place”
The Spartans invade the countryside
Silver-mines are out of reach, and shoddy silver-plated coppers are in circulation
The procession to Eleusis has not been held in 8 years
References to:
Argunusae and to the Oligarchic revolution and the bitter legacy of these events
There are strong divisions between pro and anti war factions as well as democrats and oligarch. Aristophanes sees the importance of a unified Athens if it is to successfully defeat or compromise with Sparta and Persia
Lack of good leadership and sound advice in Athens
There is an obvious need for a leader who can unite the poleis. Just as Dionysus searches for a poet who can instruct wisely, so too does Athens search for a leader who can lead wisely.
Need for new morals and values
Aristophanes urges Athenians to support politicians with traditional values. The influence of the Sophists is proving deadly to Athens and Aristophanes pleads with his audience to turn from them
The damage done by the continuing war
Cleophon is leading Athens further and further into despair because of his insistence on maintaining war with Sparta. Athens is struggling. It is poverty stricken, inflation is out of control and Athens’ strong traditions are quickly being eroded
Corrupt politicians
Democracy is corrupt. The leaders are continuing the war for personal gain, both monetarily and for prestige. Cleigenes (a pro war democrat) is a thief. As a wash house proprietor he mixes ash with detergents to make them go further. As a demagogue he gives wrong or deceptive advice of peace and goodwill.
Forgiveness of past wrongs
Aristophanes urges the Athenians to forgive the leaders and supporters of the oligarchic revolution. He refers to the misguided supporters of Phrynichus, who now regret supporting him. Aristophanes wants their citizen rights restored so they can help restore Athens. Athens needs as many men as possible, by disenfranchising the oligarchs Athens loses a large number of able fighting men. Aristophanes praises the democrats for allowing slaves the right to vote, but pleads for the same courtesy and measure to be shown to the oligarchs.
Quotes to support themes: The city of Athens is sick & in need of renewal/restoration
Prologue
“ Lack of good poets: reflection on political state of Athens. All good politicians are dead and no-one is steering the ship.
I need a poet who can really write. Nowadays it seems like ‘many are gone and those that live are dead.’”
“Insignificant squeakers, twittering like a choir of swallows. A disgrace to their calling. If they’re ever actually granted a chorus, they piss all over the art of tragedy and then you never hear of them again.”
“I defy you to find a genuine poet among the whole lot of them: one who can coin a memorable line.”
Parados
“ Idea of rebirth/renewal that is needed for Athens
Call upon him, call Iachhus! Raise the torches, wake the flame! See at once the darkness scatter as we shout his sacred name.”
“Shine for us and we will follow.”
“And I will bear the holy torch for the girls and women.”
“We may shine above the rest.”
“We don’t want the leaders who stoke party strife.” – violence
“The greedy official who’d even be willing to sell his own city just to make a killing.” – corruption
“We don’t want the traitor who sides with the foe. We don’t want the soldier who lets the fort go.” – unpatriotic
“We’ve no use for heathens who don’t understand conventions of comedy, noble and grand; who snigger and leer till the festival’s ended, and find double entendres where none are intended.” – ignorant
“He’s lost his precious lover boy; his sad cries rend the air, as he takes a pair of tweezers to his last superfluous hair.” – un-masculine
“His parentage is doubtful and he isn’t on the books.” – not citizens
“Some people, there are who, when mocked in a play, vent spleen on a poet by cutting his play.” – spiteful
“Yet up among the dead men he’s the prince of all the crooks – It’s the way they do things now.” – wicked
“Last night as we revelled from twilight till dawn, my clothes and my sandals to ribbons were torn. It’s the fault of the god, but perhaps his defence is that it raises a laugh and cuts down the expenses.” – expense of mounting a chorus in time of war
Parabasis
“When once translated from the thracian.” – criticizing Cleophon for not being an athenian citizen
“When history is penned they’ll say we must have gone clean around the bend.”
“There was a time when you’d have scorned to use men so debased, so far beyond the pale.”
Scenes after Parabasis
“Well, you see, there ain’t many decent folk down here: just take a look for yourself.”
The Agon
“And now even the sailors argue with their officers.”
“And now the ship drifts all over the place.”
Exodos Forgive those who supported the oligarchs
Parabasis
“The time has come to forgive and forget.”
“Come, wise Athenians, come swallow your pride! We need those loyal kinsmen on our side.”
“And first for those misguided souls I plead who in the past to Phrynicus paid heed.”
“When history is penned they’ll say we must have gone clean around the bend.”
The Agon
“If we are now putting our trust in certain persons, and not putting our trust in certain other persons, and the City is not being saved, then it seems to me that the only reasonable hope of saving the City lies in reversing the procedure.”
Role Reversal
Prologue
“I am carrying the luggage, aren’t I?’ (xanthias) ‘Of course you’re not. You’re riding.” (dionysus)
“If I’d only been in that sea battle, I’d be a free man now. And if I got my hands on you…”
“Mistook you for a madman, I expect, sir.”
Scenes after Parados
“Well, if you’re feeling so brave and resolute, how about taking my place? Here you are, you take the club and lion skin. Chance to show your courage. And I’ll carry the luggage for you. There!”
“Boy, bring the luggage in, will you?”
“Rack, thumbscrews, gallows, cat-nine-tails; pour vinegar up his nostrils, pile bricks on his chest – anything you like. Only don’t hit him with a leek or a fresh spring onion. I won’t stand for that – brings tears to my eyes.”
“Shh! Don’t call me that, for heaven’s sake: don’t breathe that name down here.”
Scenes after Parados
“Well, if you’re feeling so brave and resolute, how about taking my place? Here you are, you take the club and lion skin. Chance to show your courage. And I’ll carry the luggage for you. There!”
“No, no, look here. You can’t, I’m immortal. I say. I’m a god. Dionysus, son of Zeus. And this fellow’s a slave.”
The war should be ended
Exodos
“And give this (*hands him a vicious-looking knife*) to cleophon with my compliments.”
Structure
Prologue
Introduces characters of Dionysus & Xanthias
Learn that Xanthias the slave is smarter than Dionysus, the master
Parados
The parados of initiates encourages a return to a simpler life/pastoral life
Mini Agon
Dionysus’ claim of identity
Parabasis
Advises Athenians to unite & forgive the supporters of Phrynicus and those who were linked to the oligarchic revolution and restore their citizenship rights
Poetry of Euripides only appeals to criminals & lowlife
Shows sickness of the city
The Agon
What should be done about Alcibiades – Aristophanes advice is to learn to tolerate him
Encourages a return to traditional values
Aeschylus represents the traditional old-fashioned values of heroes of Marathon & Salamis while Euripides represents the new generation educated by the Sophists whose modern values have led to the denigration of Athens.
Exodos
Pluto tells Aeschylus to go back to Athens and educate the fools and save the city
The Chorus sing about Aeschylus returning to Athens and putting an end to war and suffering
rologue
