grk/rom
2004-12-06 at 6:45 p.m.

Greek theatre, much like modern theatre, was an art in which a playwright could express his view or reflection of society. Aristophanes did this in all his plays, expressing a social commentary on what he may have found to be 'wrong' with society at the time. In Aristophanes' play 'Wasps' he makes criticisms of the Athenian jury system, the connection between the law court and home life, and the powerful control of the demagogues. More particularly Wasps follows the story of old Procleon, who takes daily pleasure in spending his days in the law courts and living off a juror pay of two obols a day, and his son, Contracleon, who wishes that his father would realize that he's being made a fool, and allow his son to take care of him. Procleon is convinced that the life of a juror is something to be envied by other men, but he does not realized that he is being both manipulated and exploited. Is it better to live life being exploited in an ignorant bliss, or to live life safely in the comfort of your oikos, under the responsibility of your son? Whatever suits your fancy. But for Aristophanes, the latter is the better choice for Procleon to make.

In this essay I will be focusing my attention on the criticism of the Athenian jury system and how it is being manipulated and controlled by the demagogues, as well as the relation between life in the courts and life at home.

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