Aristophanes: The Wasps

By William Charles Green

Book Overview

Aristophanes: The Wasps is a play written by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. The play was first performed in Athens in 422 BCE and was later translated into English in 1868. The play is a satirical comedy that mocks the Athenian legal system and the political elite of the time.The plot of the play revolves around a wealthy Athenian named Philocleon who is obsessed with serving on juries. His son, Bdelycleon, is fed up with his father's obsession and decides to take matters into his own hands. Bdelycleon and his friends dress up as wasps and convince Philocleon that he has been kidnapped by the creatures. They then put him on trial for his obsession with serving on juries and force him to see the error of his ways.The play is known for its clever wordplay and its use of satire to criticize Athenian society. It is also notable for its portrayal of the role of the citizen in Athenian democracy and the power of the legal system. Despite its ancient origins, the play remains relevant today as a commentary on the dangers of blind adherence to authority and the importance of critical thinking.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 110440799X
• ISBN13: 9781104407995
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"