Customer Reviews

Aristophanes and Athens: An Introduction to the Plays

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For anyone who is new to the crude and seemingly inaccessible humour of Aristophanes, this book should come as a blessing. Not only does it give detailed analysis of the political background necessary to appreciate the clever allegories, but acquaints the general reader with the overall messages of Aristophanes' plays that can be outrageously funny and clever. Arisophanes and Athens is very accessible, and sheds light on literature over 2000 years old that is surprisingly relevant to our society today.

Professor MacDowell here gives a play by play breakdown of the works of Aristophanes. Included are short summaries, or surmises on the missing plays when there is some evidence - extracts, period refernces, etc. Professor MaDowell writes clearly and his thoughts are easy to follow - something I cannot say for a majority of his tribe. He can also be quite blunt about views not in accord with his own conclusions! A great deal of his attention focuses on Aristophanes' efforts to sell his ideas - with special emphasis on the political - to the Athenian audience through his plays, a valid and persuasive starting point for examination of the works as well as one which gives a strong immediacy to the discussion. The reader receives a steady stream of up-to-date information as to the how and the where and the why for each play's production. MacDowell's approach does not categorically eschew topicality; he makes an apt and enlightening analogy between the younger Aristophanes' plays and the films of Hitchcock and the differing roles of producer and artist. Overall this book represents much diligent and careful thought: MacDowell is as well versed as anyone in the literature and it shows. While I differ on several points, his overall conception shows much distinction. The Chapters vary in quality, but all are thoroughly discussed and several, such as the essays on the Akharnians and Wasps, are very fine indeed.
A thought-provoking book; not only a good overview of the works for someone who wishes to further and more closely examine this most perplexing of comic masters, but also an excellent addition to a classical library of critical works.