Description
The Acharnians is one out of the eleven plays by Aristophanes that survived throughout the ages. Written in 425 BCE and translated in 1832 by Charles James Wilson, lawyer and folklorist, the play is a comedy full of absurd elements that are just as enjoyable today as they were almost two and a half thousand years ago – and not lacking the witty criticism addressed against the political and military leadership either.The plot of the play starts during the Peloponnesian War, a conflict between Athens and Sparta that lasted for almost three decades. The protagonist is Dikaiopolis, a bored and disillusioned middle-aged man longing to return to his home village. He is true to his name – Dikaiopolis means Just City in ancient Greek. The next scene shows him participating in the ecclesia, the main assembly of the men of the city, voicing his dissatisfaction with the performance of the locals. It is in the ecclesia that Dikaiopolis meets an immortal called Amphitheus, who claims that he can obtain a peace pact with the Spartans, which would end the long and bloody war. Dikaiopolis pays the fee that Amphitheus demands for his contribution and the private peace pact is achieved. Dikaiopolis is celebrating his private pact when the party is interrupted by a conflict with charcoal makers from Acharnia. To convince them about the futility of the war, Dikaiopolis agrees to make a speech. He manages to convince some Acharnians, while others are still in favor of the war, but later on he turns everyone around. Dikaiopolis then sets up a marketplace where lots of coming and going takes place, the comedy ending in general celebrations.The play is informed by repeated clashes between the anti-war attitude that the playwright himself adopted and pro-war movements.
Product ID: 9781776667802
Sku: 7X-J51S-FU3R
