Aristophanes the Comic Writer Essay -- essays research papers

AristophanesAristophanes was a comic writer who lived between 450 and 385 BC and compose about forty dictations in his lifetime. His plays were all comedies, which usually addressed real serious political and social issues in a direct and peeled manner, which, like much of todays comedy, is what made them funny for the sense of hearing to watch and appreciate. more of the comedies would even go as far as mocking members of the audience or making personal attacks upon contemporary political personalities. Aristophanes Lysistrata is no riddance to this crude comedy, ridiculing what he thinks is the absurdity of the Peloponnesian War. The comedy is a brightly constructed piece with an extremely profound underlying message encouraging a Panhellenic society. He does not see the point of the battles within the dry land and wishes a unification of the city-states. Therefore through his work he wishes to irradiate the people of Greece.In order to understand the meaning behind Aris tophanes play, almost background history of the events leading up to the war is needed. There argon three important occurrences, which ultimately led to the outbreak. It all started when Epidamnus (a resolution of Corcyra) became conglomerate in a political struggle. Democratic f exploits had taken control of the colonys government and forced the aristocrats out of power. In retaliation for this action the aristocrats joined with barbaric forces and attacked the city and its surrounding areas. Seeking help, the colony direct a request to Corcyra, its motherland, for military intervention. Corcyra however refused to help the Epidamnians in their political struggle, and so the colony went to the city-state of Corinth for assistance. Being itself distantly related to the people of this colony, the corinthians displace ships to suppress the violence. This move greatly displeased the Corcyraeans who saw the Corinthians as engaged with their affairs. So in turn, they sent their own ships to intercept the Corinthians. To counter the Corinthian action, the Corcyraeans made an alliance with Athens (who had a very bitter kind with Corinth). Acting according to a duty to protect the Epidamnians and possibly reasonable to stand up to the Athenians, the Corinthian fleet attacked the Corcyraeans anyway. The resulting engagement was won decisively by Corcyraeans because of the Athenian support. This act further embitte... ...hough some of the women were weakened, it was the support of others that helped them flood out their cravings. This gives us a reference to the good that comes out of a coupled group. Aristophanes using more comical examples putting light on the stupidities of this war. In a scene involving Myrrhine and her husband, Myrrhine puts her husband through tortureIm dead the womans worn me all away. Shes asleep(p) and left me with an anguished pulse. What shall I put thee in (O woe) Since into something curtilage must go, Poor little lad he pines and peeks. Our lovely miss has proved a curse. (Lysistrata, P. 319) This is all a comical twist, which appeals to the audience. Whether they realize it or not, they are being exposed to the faults of the war. Aristophanes is able to get his message crosswise to a lot of people and in turn the word is spread. Aristophanes play serves a greater purpose than a mere comical work. He addresses his views on the Peloponnesian War. He expresses his resentment of the war and pokes fun at how illogical it truly is. Through this comedy he is able to chip in the public crowd and spread his views.