The Wasps
Summary of the story:
"In The wasps, the father, Philocleon, who, as his name denotes, is warmly attached to
Cleon, has surrendered the management of his affairs to his son Bdelucleon--the word
meaning the detester of Cleon. The son regrets his father's fondness for judicial business,
and weans him from it partly by establishing a law-court at home, in which the house-dog
is tried for stealing a Sicilian cheese, with all the formalities of a regular process
in the dicasterion. In the second half of the play Philocleon is induced to turn his
attention to music and literature, whereupon he is congratulated by the chorus."
Questions about the author:
Cleon, has surrendered the management of his affairs to his son Bdelucleon--the word
meaning the detester of Cleon. The son regrets his father's fondness for judicial business,
and weans him from it partly by establishing a law-court at home, in which the house-dog
is tried for stealing a Sicilian cheese, with all the formalities of a regular process
in the dicasterion. In the second half of the play Philocleon is induced to turn his
attention to music and literature, whereupon he is congratulated by the chorus."
Questions about the author:
¿Which kind of author lies upon The wasps?
Aristophanes was raised in a wealthy family, he was well educated with the values
that every Greek guy should have. He had a clear view of the flaws in the system he lived in,
and he decided to talk about them trough comedy. He used his language skills on
The Wasps to criticize the courts of justice of Greece of his time.
¿Did he have in mind any reader?
Aristophanes had in mind all citizens of Athens, and also all Greeks that loved on the Helade.
He wanted that his critics were heard in all places specially because he was demanding justice.
The Wasps is intended to criticize Cleon, an Athens’ politician of his time.
Aristophanes had in mind all citizens of Athens, and also all Greeks that loved on the Helade.
He wanted that his critics were heard in all places specially because he was demanding justice.
The Wasps is intended to criticize Cleon, an Athens’ politician of his time.
¿Did he set a specific contract on it?
Yes, he wanted to challenge his reader to think about his political dogmas, he wanted to
challenge those and if possible make the reader see the flaws of the courts of justice of Athens.
challenge those and if possible make the reader see the flaws of the courts of justice of Athens.
Questions about Sources:
¿Is History the real and direct source?
History is the base of the story, mostly because the characters are real people, moreover
not everything that happens in the story is real. An important part of the comedies
is that it tends to exaggerate aspects of the story.
¿Is History the real and direct source?
History is the base of the story, mostly because the characters are real people, moreover
not everything that happens in the story is real. An important part of the comedies
is that it tends to exaggerate aspects of the story.
¿How far personal affairs influence the plot?
Aristophanes truly supported the aristocratic peace party, he also
Aristophanes truly supported the aristocratic peace party, he also
wasn’t happy with the courts of justice of his time, especially after Cleon manipulated
the courts when he prosecuted Aristophanes for slandering the Polis with his play
“The Babylonians”, so he used his gift for literature to express his critics of Cleon,
therefore his personal affairs influence the plot.
the courts when he prosecuted Aristophanes for slandering the Polis with his play
“The Babylonians”, so he used his gift for literature to express his critics of Cleon,
therefore his personal affairs influence the plot.
¿Is this a theater-play about Justice?
indeed Justice plays a major roll on the play, moreover it also talk about other important
topics such as the power abuse, the courts of justice, and the rewriting of the laws to help
judges to get away with things.
indeed Justice plays a major roll on the play, moreover it also talk about other important
topics such as the power abuse, the courts of justice, and the rewriting of the laws to help
judges to get away with things.
¿Why talking and writing about Justice through comedy?
Mostly because the author wanted to mock the regime, the politicians,
and the corruption that was being lived at his time, comedy was a popular genre.
and the corruption that was being lived at his time, comedy was a popular genre.
Questions about anecdote:
¿Is a love-hate relation between father and son? or
¿Is a justice-injustice one?
The piece is definitely a justice vs injustice metaphor represented by the power
of a father and the son who is trying to do things the right way.
¿Is a justice-injustice one?
The piece is definitely a justice vs injustice metaphor represented by the power
of a father and the son who is trying to do things the right way.
¿How worth is Justice in Greek society?
Politics were the most important thing in the Greek society, however
I think that politics were more important than justice. The Greeks were not so focused
on justice but instead of doing the prosecutions “in the right way”,
also some groups cared more on keeping the power than doing their job right.
This was a big deal because politicians would do everything to stay in power but
they will only care about themselves.
I think that politics were more important than justice. The Greeks were not so focused
on justice but instead of doing the prosecutions “in the right way”,
also some groups cared more on keeping the power than doing their job right.
This was a big deal because politicians would do everything to stay in power but
they will only care about themselves.
Questions about structure:
¿Is that kind of comedy structure made for play performance?
Yes, the structure used in the Wasps is for it to be performed, even though it does not
provide a lot of details of the actions for the actors, but it is also easy to read.
¿Is that kind of comedy structure made for play performance?
Yes, the structure used in the Wasps is for it to be performed, even though it does not
provide a lot of details of the actions for the actors, but it is also easy to read.
¿How facts are put to deal kindly with argument and mise-en-scène?
Using the not so fictional story (because of the real names of the people that appear in the story)
Aristophanes uses metaphors (with the dogs), the use of language, rollicking humor,
and dialogs to show his arguments (his critic). The facts used in the play are hide in symbols
during the story, some of them are historical facts, and others are exaggerations
of the politics of the time.
Aristophanes uses metaphors (with the dogs), the use of language, rollicking humor,
and dialogs to show his arguments (his critic). The facts used in the play are hide in symbols
during the story, some of them are historical facts, and others are exaggerations
of the politics of the time.
Questions about Plot:
As a contemporary reader:
¿Can I find an example of Aristophanes comedy in current Comedy?
As a contemporary reader:
¿Can I find an example of Aristophanes comedy in current Comedy?
Yes in the book Animal farm by George Orwell, and Catch me if you can the drama/action
movie.
movie.
¿How important is irony since then?
Irony encourage the reader or viewer to think and analyze the topics that are been treated
in the story. It helps to tell a story, focused on a virtue or the contrary, using subtle actions
and dialogues to do the critic of the actions.
Irony encourage the reader or viewer to think and analyze the topics that are been treated
in the story. It helps to tell a story, focused on a virtue or the contrary, using subtle actions
and dialogues to do the critic of the actions.
¿Should I consider Aristophanes comedy a fixed model?
I think that It doesn’t use the same fixed model. The model that is been used it is different
and it created the use of irony to tell a story and to critique an action that the author does not
agree with.
and it created the use of irony to tell a story and to critique an action that the author does not
agree with.
As an author:
¿Can it make rise attention in contemporary audience?
Absolutely, the Wasps talk about important topics for human politics.
We as politics animals of the Polis (no matter where we live) must know about them
and we must not let politics power abuse with their positions as representatives of governments.
We as politics animals of the Polis (no matter where we live) must know about them
and we must not let politics power abuse with their positions as representatives of governments.
¿Could it be modified to get expectations of contemporary audience?
It is still relevant for the contemporary audience today and even if it doesn’t need
to be modified it can so the contemporary audience can understand the critic of the author.
to be modified it can so the contemporary audience can understand the critic of the author.
Questions about Action:
¿Did the author have another choice to write down his ideas on Plot?
Aristophanes could have use a lot of tools to express his ideas, like a fable or a story
with fictional characters, however to accomplish his goal he decided to use a comedy
with real characters.
¿Did the author have another choice to write down his ideas on Plot?
Aristophanes could have use a lot of tools to express his ideas, like a fable or a story
with fictional characters, however to accomplish his goal he decided to use a comedy
with real characters.
¿Is climax a paradigm to be broken?
Climax is always a paradigm to be broken, however I feel that the technique hat Aristophanes
use is one where the story has multiple climax during the study.
use is one where the story has multiple climax during the study.
¿How should climatic points be understood from the reader’s view?
I think that the reader can appreciate climax in different points in the story and of different
levels, some of them been bigger than others.
levels, some of them been bigger than others.
Questions about Time:
¿Is there any Narrative Technique that you can identify for time developing?
The use of the chorus, with para basis, and as a omniscient narrator of the story has
the objective to clarify aspects of the story for the audience. The chorus plays
a major part of the story and at the same time they aren’t part of the story, this mean that
they are part of it but they could and will be change in the future by reacher dialogues
of the characters.
¿Is there any Narrative Technique that you can identify for time developing?
The use of the chorus, with para basis, and as a omniscient narrator of the story has
the objective to clarify aspects of the story for the audience. The chorus plays
a major part of the story and at the same time they aren’t part of the story, this mean that
they are part of it but they could and will be change in the future by reacher dialogues
of the characters.
¿Why to use that kind in his work, by Aristophanes?
I think he uses this kind of narrative technique to symbolize a point of view from another angle,
as if he wanted to show a different perspective of the government that Greeks
could not of not wanted to see or accept.
as if he wanted to show a different perspective of the government that Greeks
could not of not wanted to see or accept.
Questions about Space:
¿Does Athens represent the whole Greece?
The problems of corruption, power abuse, and politicians does represent the whole Greece,
however Athens as a Polis supposedly was different, because of the importance of justice
and law. On the other hand each Polis was unique and had different drivers.
¿Does Athens represent the whole Greece?
The problems of corruption, power abuse, and politicians does represent the whole Greece,
however Athens as a Polis supposedly was different, because of the importance of justice
and law. On the other hand each Polis was unique and had different drivers.
¿Might Aristophanes foreshadow the present world?
He truly did, Aristophanes knew how people lose their mind with power, and how politicians
manipulate the courts for and personal ends (including providing jurors with cases
to try to keep up their play), not even starting talking about corruption.
Aristophanes shows this on his plays: people losing their minds with power,
and using it for his personal ends, this has not change, I personally think this is
because it is part of human nature.
manipulate the courts for and personal ends (including providing jurors with cases
to try to keep up their play), not even starting talking about corruption.
Aristophanes shows this on his plays: people losing their minds with power,
and using it for his personal ends, this has not change, I personally think this is
because it is part of human nature.
¿May we have a glance of the ancient Greece through The wasps ?
The reader gets a glance of the Ancient Greece by the dialogues of the characters,
their traditions, culture, sayings, general ideology and lives described in the story.
their traditions, culture, sayings, general ideology and lives described in the story.
Questions about Narrator:
¿What kind of narrator is the Chorus?
The Chorus is two kinds of narrator: omniscient and character. The chorus plays
a soliloquy explaining the the situation to be resolved in the play. The are in charge to clarify
the ideas for the audience
¿What kind of narrator is the Chorus?
The Chorus is two kinds of narrator: omniscient and character. The chorus plays
a soliloquy explaining the the situation to be resolved in the play. The are in charge to clarify
the ideas for the audience
¿Why did Chorus disappeared in Theater plays?
The chorus was not a part of the play as like the characters, they are a complement for
the play to be understood. However when the dialogues became more rich the chorus
started becoming more useless and it was changed by dialogues that were charge of the same roll.
the play to be understood. However when the dialogues became more rich the chorus
started becoming more useless and it was changed by dialogues that were charge of the same roll.
Questions about Characters:
¿What kind of character is the protagonist?
The protagonist, the father, is an insensate, unwise, and addicted to power in the jury as a judge.
He represents all the bad aspects of the politicians.
¿What kind of character is the protagonist?
The protagonist, the father, is an insensate, unwise, and addicted to power in the jury as a judge.
He represents all the bad aspects of the politicians.
¿What kind of character are the principals?
In my opinion the principal characters are the yin and yang of politics, the good and evil,
the fairness and unfairness. Knowing that the play is a political comedy the principal
characters symbolize two man symbols: justice (the son) and injustice (the father)
of the politics of the Greek Polis.
the fairness and unfairness. Knowing that the play is a political comedy the principal
characters symbolize two man symbols: justice (the son) and injustice (the father)
of the politics of the Greek Polis.
¿What kind of character is the antagonist?
The antagonist is Philocleon’s son he’s the opposite of his father. He sees a need to
restitute Philocleon with a correct vision of justice.
restitute Philocleon with a correct vision of justice.
Questions about Expression forms:
¿How dialogues are performed?
They are performed as if the reader was watching a play. The dialogues are very theatrical,
and are thought to been read it like that.
¿How dialogues are performed?
They are performed as if the reader was watching a play. The dialogues are very theatrical,
and are thought to been read it like that.
¿Do dialogues truly belong to the character which realize them?
I’ll say that the answer is yes, because the character that realize them give them a unique
sense or “taste” as you will. You can not imagine the movie Grease without thinking in
John Travolta, or Titanic without Leonardo DiCaprio.
sense or “taste” as you will. You can not imagine the movie Grease without thinking in
John Travolta, or Titanic without Leonardo DiCaprio.
Questions about Ideas:
¿Which kind of idea shows the highest level among them?
The story has a variety of ideas, from political (the city of Athens and its laws),
social (father and son relationship), ethic (men behavior in relation to State),
religious (Gods and men), artistic (singing), philosophical (the Greek world),
and scientific (methods, procedures, and technology). However the one that shows
more relevant for the author is the political one.
The story has a variety of ideas, from political (the city of Athens and its laws),
social (father and son relationship), ethic (men behavior in relation to State),
religious (Gods and men), artistic (singing), philosophical (the Greek world),
and scientific (methods, procedures, and technology). However the one that shows
more relevant for the author is the political one.
¿Why has the author done it so?
I think that this is because the author’s view of the political system of Athens,
he has personal beef with Cleon, and he used this story to mock him and show Cleon
what he thought about him.
I think that this is because the author’s view of the political system of Athens,
he has personal beef with Cleon, and he used this story to mock him and show Cleon
what he thought about him.
¿What kind of thinking is for expressing ideas?
He uses this story, disguised as a simply comedy, to show his thinking through symbols
such as: phallic symbols, and acts with cultural significance.
He uses this story, disguised as a simply comedy, to show his thinking through symbols
such as: phallic symbols, and acts with cultural significance.
¿How characters consciousness is made out in the drama?
Characters such as Philocleon, Bdelucleom, the dogs, among other characters
are different representations of symbols of real events and issues that were happening
in the Helade. Characters consciousness is based on the political critic, it is the center
and essential part of the consciousness of each one of the characters has a different meaning
that the author wants the reader to discover.
are different representations of symbols of real events and issues that were happening
in the Helade. Characters consciousness is based on the political critic, it is the center
and essential part of the consciousness of each one of the characters has a different meaning
that the author wants the reader to discover.
Questions about symbols:
¿What does represent father?
Philocleon means “lover of Cleon”, as the reader can see the
Philocleon means “lover of Cleon”, as the reader can see the
father represents addiction to litigation, excessive use of court, injustice and power abuse
of politicians, it was the vivid representation of the politician Cleon.
of politicians, it was the vivid representation of the politician Cleon.
¿What does represent son?
The son represents justice and the desagrement of politics that do their “justice” as they wish,
treating prosecutors as if they were inferior (animals). The son is the voice of unconformity
of everyone that is tired of the politics systems.
The son represents justice and the desagrement of politics that do their “justice” as they wish,
treating prosecutors as if they were inferior (animals). The son is the voice of unconformity
of everyone that is tired of the politics systems.
¿What does the dogs represent?
The dogs represent the people that go to trial and are treated as inferiors, literally like animals.
Aristophanes used this metaphor as a way of expression of nonconformity with the system.
Aristophanes used this metaphor as a way of expression of nonconformity with the system.
Questions about Meaning of the work:
¿Is The Wasps important as classical Literature work?
The Wasps has importance because it is a pioneer in the use of irony to press nonconformity
with something or someone.
The Wasps has importance because it is a pioneer in the use of irony to press nonconformity
with something or someone.
¿Is It worth of universal recognition? ¿Why?
The Wasps is worthy of universal recognition because it highlights and critics a
global phenomenon that is the abuse of power and the political dictators.
global phenomenon that is the abuse of power and the political dictators.
Questions about Reception of the work:
“It will be clear from this summary that Aristophanic comedy is and is not, in
“It will be clear from this summary that Aristophanic comedy is and is not, in
my view, political. It is political, in the sense that contemporary political life is its
point of departure; political reality is taken up by the poet and subjected to the
ignominious transformations of comic fantasy. But the product of the fantasising
process did not and was not intended to have a reciprocal effect on political
reality; comedy had no designs on the political life from which it departed, and in
that sense was not political. Politics was the material of comedy, but comedy did
not in turn aspire to be a political force. This is a reading which some might decry
as ‘aestheticist’; but that would be a mistake.”
Heath, Malcolm. University of Leeds. http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/3588/1/Political_Comedy_in_Aristophanes.pdf
¿How different was meaning in his age and today’s?
I fell that the meaning is the same, the play is timeless, politicians are still acting and
doing things as if they were on a comedy, all Aristophanes’ critics are remaining in
today’s world.
I fell that the meaning is the same, the play is timeless, politicians are still acting and
doing things as if they were on a comedy, all Aristophanes’ critics are remaining in
today’s world.
¿Are you shocked with Aristophanes world?
I fell in love with it. I think that Aristophanes was really brave publishing the Wasps,
specially because he used the real name of the politicians he was criticizing.
I fell in love with it. I think that Aristophanes was really brave publishing the Wasps,
specially because he used the real name of the politicians he was criticizing.
¿Are remaining values from the past in our present world?
Yes, good and evil will always be in conflict, because they are part of the human nature,
therefore values and anti values will always be present.
therefore values and anti values will always be present.
To understand the use of values it is necessary to understand the meaning and reception.
The meaning is big, however the structure of the narrative doesn’t have to correspond
with the values of everyone (the reception).
For more information read: http://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_aristophanes_wasps.html
with the values of everyone (the reception).
Meaning of the work: .
"The debilitating effects of old age and the dehumanizing
effects of an addiction,however, are sombre themes that
lift the action beyond the scope of a mere farce. “The
Wasps” is also thought to exemplify all the conventions and
structural elements of Old Comedy at their best, and
represents the zenith of the Old Comedy tradition."
(Roldan, 2018)
This blog is based on:
Roldán, B. (2018). Class notes of "Cultura literaria" de la carrera de Comunicación,
Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara.
Aristophanes. (2017). The Wasps. México, Distrito Federal. Editorial Porrua.
Roldán, B. (2018). Class notes of "Cultura literaria" de la carrera de Comunicación,
Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara.
Aristophanes. (2017). The Wasps. México, Distrito Federal. Editorial Porrua.
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