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 intended to show readers that in thetendency to philosophical subtleties lies the neglection of thereal needs of the A whenceians. harmonize to Aristophanes,philosophical guessing 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 commute others of wrongor weaker beliefs simply 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 reading of clasiscal literature and almost physical excersize.I believe the fact that Athenian youth were starting time to askquestions of the elder s in the city really botheredAristophanes. I study he really thought it to be dangerous anddetrimental to friendship as sens be seen through the lineStrepsiades yells towards the end, revenge for the wound gods(II.i.1506). I believe Aristophanes to be part of the groupthat accused Socrates of non accepting the recognized gods ofstate, which many believed to be a part of the subversive activity ofAthenian youth. While I dont agree with that accusation --primarily because of Socrates apprehension of Apollo through theOracle at Delphi -- I can see some(prenominal) Aristophanes points ofcontention with what he thought the Sophists and otherphilsophers stood for.The Clouds, who form 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 sense of experience,but quite float about without definite framework andactualization, simply in the nei ghborhood of possibility. I found itinteresting that Aristophanes chose to illustrate this metaphorbetween the clouds and the Sophists beliefs into a literalrepresentation. He furthered this illustration by choosing tobring Socrates on his counterbalance appearance floating in on a basket vote out to the stage.Another aspect I find interesting in Aristoph... ...Essentially, I think that The Clouds, can be a piece ofclassical Grecian literature applicable to our have got modern world.If we do not acquire the time to examine practices and beliefs,they have the potential to lose the weight and think of that theywere once based or formed on. While Aristophanes aimed at socialize his audience through comedic satire, he also had avery hard warning -- that ended up holding true -- for thepeople of Athens. A nation too proud and too sure in its ownbeliefs and politics, has proven through history, never to work.Sadly, while I believe the fall in States is a great nation withmoral goa ls and hopes, I believe we present some of theproblems that the Athenian state suffered from, and eventuallydied from. We often times renounce to examine our beliefs. Weautomatically view them as the best, or the most moral. Thiscan be seen in our current struggle. If we constantlyleave 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.