The Clouds by Aristophanes Essay examples -- Classical Greek Literatur

The Clouds by Aristophanes - Relevant in Todays WorldThe Clouds by Aristophanes, is a play centrally concernedwith education. Aristophanes employs satire to illustrate hisconservative beliefs. It is intend to show readers that in thetendency to philosophic subtleties lies the neglection of thereal needs of the Athenians. check to Aristophanes,philosophical speculation only acts to shake the establishedfoundations of accepted religion, gods, and ideals of morality.Specifically, as it was even discused in The Apology,Aristophanes believed that philosophical attitudes held by theSophists enabled those who held them to convince others of wrongor weaker beliefs precisely by sounding as if they knew what theywere talking about -- when in reality they didnt. It seems asif Aristophanes would approve of an education based souly aroundthe cultivation of clasiscal literature and some physical excersize.I believe the fact that Athenian youth were starting to askquestions of the elders in the city really dauntedAristophanes. I think he really thought it to be austere anddetrimental to society as jakes be seen through the nisusStrepsiades yells towards the end, revenge for the injured gods(II.i.1506). I believe Aristophanes to be part of the conferencethat accused Socrates of not accepting the recognized gods ofstate, which many believed to be a part of the corruption ofAthenian youth. age I dont agree with that thrill --primarily because of Socrates recognition of Apollo through theOracle at Delphi -- I can see some Aristophanes points ofcontention with what he thought the Sophists and otherphilsophers stood for.The Clouds, who mixture the chorus in Aristophanes play, are aphysical representation of the philosophical speculation thatAristophanes speaks of. According to Aristophanes, thesespeculations do not come from a grounded ace of experience,but rather float about without definite framework andactualization, simply in the realm of possibility. I found it en kindle that Aristophanes chose to illustrate this fictionbetween the clouds and the Sophists beliefs into a literalrepresentation. He furthered this illustration by choosing to supply Socrates on his first appearance floating in on a basketdown to the stage.Another aspect I find interesting in Aristoph... ...Essentially, I think that The Clouds, can be a share ofclassical Greek literature applicable to our own modern world.If we do not take the time to examine practices and beliefs,they have the potential to doze off the weight and value that theywere once based or formed on. While Aristophanes aimed atentertaining his audience through comedic satire, he also had avery serious warning -- that ended up holding received -- for thepeople of Athens. A nation too proud and too for sure in its ownbeliefs and politics, has proven through history, never to work.Sadly, while I believe the United States is a great nation withmoral goals and hopes, I believe we exemplify some of theprobl ems that the Athenian state suffered from, and eventuallydied from. We a lot times refuse to examine our beliefs. Weautomatically view them as the best, or the most moral. Thiscan be seen in our current struggle. If we constantly gift our borders to try and convince others around the world thatAmerican knows best, were doomed for failure. As exemplified inThe Clouds, we then become the ones throwing stones at peoplewe dont agree with -- a fate almost worse than death.