"Acharnians" by Aristophanes-Humor with A Cause
Humor is quite often is self-serving business. Aristophanes is not alien to this; in many of his own plays, there are whole sections devoted to discussing his career and defending any public remarks against him. Sometimes, however, humor can take a stance of morality and honor aside from just being a means of entertainment. This play, Acharnians, is the earliest extent play written by Aristophanes, and was created when he was scarcely 20 years old. This is the third play ever written by the man, yet the brilliance and wisdom shown by this young play-write (hardly older than me right now!) shows throughout the spondees and dactyls.
The basis of this play is a common theme throughout most of literature-the stupidity of war. Aside from maybe Homer, I cannot think of many authors who presented war as a glorious and positive force for mankind. This is apparently, as I have found through my research, a common theme for many Aristophanes plays, though this is the first one I have read where an outright cry against war is shown. This was written in the midst of a conflict between Athens and Sparta, two of the greatest city states in Ancient Greece. Aristophanes, who wrote for an Attic audience and had personally had his home taken away by Spartan forces, has as much of a claim as anyone to want to take revenge. In this play, however, he clearly takes a stance to the contrary. The only people that seem to be for the war are those who make money from it-such as the charcoal merchants or the obnoxious Athenian general Lamachus. The gall that it must have taken to attack an allied commander in wartime must have been immense. It also seems that Aristophanes was no stranger to political conflict, for he had faced charges of slander by a local demagogue by the name of Cleon (a man who is mentioned repeatedly in multiple Aristophanes plays). Aristophanes comes out and says in front of the audience, through the means of the Greek chorus, that he does not like the Spartans. He hates them, in fact. He says that this, however, is not a good enough excuse to part with the good life of peace.
Dicaeopolis, the protagonist of the play, is set up as a reputable and intelligent Athenian citizen. He is smart enough to come up with his own personal truce between himself and all the city states that are at war at the time. He establishes his own borders, and for the most part does not receive many negative consequences for his actions. I am used to reading comedies with a bit more resistance to change. It could very well be that Dicaeopolis is working on his own in this situation, but after the argument that he undergoes against the Acharnian charcoal burners (who would like to continue the war with Sparta out of spite), Dicaeopolis spends the next whole half or so of the play relishing in his newfound peacetime glory. He trades with various men in comical scenes comparing women to pigs, or farcical trade negotiations. The most memorable comedic scene of this play for me was the parallel structure found at the end. This is where the suffering of wounds and the trials of war that are faced by Lamachus are juxtaposed with the drunken pleasures Dicaeopolis receives at the hands of two young girls. Penis jokes galore!
I suppose that the greatest lesson that can be taken from this play is a dramatic underscoring of what has been hinted at by all of Aristophanes' plays thus far: that humor can be directed for political purposes and CAN make a difference in the world in which it is set. More and more, Aristophanes seems to the be the father of comedy, especially that which is politically aware. Who's your daddy, Steven Colbert???
The basis of this play is a common theme throughout most of literature-the stupidity of war. Aside from maybe Homer, I cannot think of many authors who presented war as a glorious and positive force for mankind. This is apparently, as I have found through my research, a common theme for many Aristophanes plays, though this is the first one I have read where an outright cry against war is shown. This was written in the midst of a conflict between Athens and Sparta, two of the greatest city states in Ancient Greece. Aristophanes, who wrote for an Attic audience and had personally had his home taken away by Spartan forces, has as much of a claim as anyone to want to take revenge. In this play, however, he clearly takes a stance to the contrary. The only people that seem to be for the war are those who make money from it-such as the charcoal merchants or the obnoxious Athenian general Lamachus. The gall that it must have taken to attack an allied commander in wartime must have been immense. It also seems that Aristophanes was no stranger to political conflict, for he had faced charges of slander by a local demagogue by the name of Cleon (a man who is mentioned repeatedly in multiple Aristophanes plays). Aristophanes comes out and says in front of the audience, through the means of the Greek chorus, that he does not like the Spartans. He hates them, in fact. He says that this, however, is not a good enough excuse to part with the good life of peace.
Dicaeopolis, the protagonist of the play, is set up as a reputable and intelligent Athenian citizen. He is smart enough to come up with his own personal truce between himself and all the city states that are at war at the time. He establishes his own borders, and for the most part does not receive many negative consequences for his actions. I am used to reading comedies with a bit more resistance to change. It could very well be that Dicaeopolis is working on his own in this situation, but after the argument that he undergoes against the Acharnian charcoal burners (who would like to continue the war with Sparta out of spite), Dicaeopolis spends the next whole half or so of the play relishing in his newfound peacetime glory. He trades with various men in comical scenes comparing women to pigs, or farcical trade negotiations. The most memorable comedic scene of this play for me was the parallel structure found at the end. This is where the suffering of wounds and the trials of war that are faced by Lamachus are juxtaposed with the drunken pleasures Dicaeopolis receives at the hands of two young girls. Penis jokes galore!
I suppose that the greatest lesson that can be taken from this play is a dramatic underscoring of what has been hinted at by all of Aristophanes' plays thus far: that humor can be directed for political purposes and CAN make a difference in the world in which it is set. More and more, Aristophanes seems to the be the father of comedy, especially that which is politically aware. Who's your daddy, Steven Colbert???