Clouds And Women At Thesmophoria Essay

The late 5th, early 4th centuries, in Athens were an eventful and emotional time for civilians. Between wars and the political debates of the time, civilians were fearful and anxious over the uncertainty of their government. To their advantage, they had games and other forms of entertainment, such as western theater to distract them from the outside world. Aristophanes was one of many playwrights to write comedy and satire plays, specifically Clouds and Women at the Thesmophoria are said to be the best explanation of Aristophanes concerns on contemporary Athens. Throughout the years of the 5th and 4th centuries civilians were faced with many economic plights. While European and Asian civilizations lead a barbarian style life, people of Athens formed in unity. The government, on the other hand, varied differently as those of Sparta led a more oligarchical form of

People are troubled and in need to get out of their debts, this can relate back to civilians of Athens as they are troubled with their fears of the warfare going on around them. At the end of Clouds, Aristophanes "leaves his protagonist with the same problem he started with." Civilians of Athens may go to plays for their entertainment, but at the end of the day, there are still revolving unsolved problems. Aristophanes focused on the Athenians as they were going through a hard time, Clouds, and never-ending debts, can arguably be compared to Athenians and their never-ending problems with economic factors. Both plays relate to Athenian civilians and are able to show through fantasy what a possible "perfect world" could be. Aristophanes writes to provide relief to civilians of the