2020 №2 (67) Article 14

Strelnikova L. Yu.

Aristophanesʼ Comedy “The Clouds” as a Mirror Reflecting Spiritual Life   of the Age of Athenian Democracy  P.138-146.

UDC 821.14-12.09«652»

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2020.67.2.014

The article treats the ancient comic playwright Aristophanesʼ comedy “The Clouds”. The aim of the article is to investigate the peculiarities of an ancient attic comedy and the issues of education which were relevant in the age of Athenian democracy. Aristophanes is known as the founder of attic comedy and a supporter of patriarchal values. Aristophanes teaches and amuses his readers. In his works, refined poetry goes hand in hand with obscene jokes. Like other plays by Aristophanes, the comedy “The Clouds” makes the reader feel immersed in the world of ancient Athens, in the age of Pericles. According to Aristophanes, religious reforms and education modernization lead to social degradation and the eventual collapse. Creating a fantastic situation, Aristophanes does not care for realism, his aim is to mock at the democratic reality, to make the reader laugh, to enable the reader to experience catharsis that purifies oneʼs soul. The article employs descriptive, historical-literary, and cultural-historical research methods. The author concludes that in the age of Athenian Democracy, education and up-bringing were the key tasks of the state. In his comedy “The Clouds”, Aristophanes underlines the significance of traditional values of the age of Athenian democracy and maintains that young people should be taught patriarchal values. Aristophanesʼ system of education is still relevant nowadays.

Aristophanes; “The Clouds”; ancient Greek comedy; education; the Socratic method; Athenian democracy; Aristophanic laughter; sophism; agon

 

References

SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS

 

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