Product Details
＋W 1982 Aristophanes, Franklin Library Edition
Notes
Aristophanes’ comedies are known for their sharp wit, political satire, and humorous critiques of Athenian society.
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The Knights: A satirical attack on the demagogue Cleon, it portrays two slaves who compete to win the favor of their master, symbolizing the political power struggles in Athens. The play ridicules political leaders and their manipulation of the masses.
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The Clouds: This comedy mocks the intellectual trends of the time, particularly the Sophists and Socrates. The play features Strepsiades, who enrolls in Socrates’ "Thinkery" to learn how to argue his way out of debt. It critiques the perceived moral decay and sophistry in Athenian education.
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The Birds: In this fantastical play, two Athenians persuade the birds to build a utopian city in the sky, creating a new order above both gods and men. It’s a whimsical exploration of power, idealism, and escapism, often seen as a critique of political ambition.
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Lysistrata: A comedic and bold play in which the women of Greece, led by Lysistrata, go on a sex strike to force their husbands to negotiate peace and end the Peloponnesian War. The play humorously explores gender roles and the futility of war.
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The Frogs: In this play, the god Dionysus descends to the underworld to bring back a great playwright (Euripides or Aeschylus) to save Athens. The play is a parody of literary criticism and a reflection on the role of art and culture in times of crisis.
These comedies, filled with political satire and social commentary, highlight Aristophanes’ genius for combining humor with incisive critiques of his contemporary world.
Description
Black leather bound edition with gold embossed detailing on spine, front, and back cover as well as gold embossed lettering on the spine. Gold fore edge with yellow silk bookmark and five raised bands. Pristine Franklin Library Edition.
