Social Satire in Aristophanes Frogs

Frogs by Aristophanes, an Athenian great comedy writer, is a social comedy making a public commentary on the everyday life of Athens. It presents a merciless satire to the political, social and the cultural life of the Athenian people through wit and laughter. Now we will look into how comically Aristophanes presents his contemporary society in his comedy.

Aristophanes, through Frogs,intends to ridicule follies of the Sophists as well as their institution specially Euripides’ plays.By doing so he wants to modify the corrupt politics and malpractice in the cultural life of the Athenian people.So the complete play moves around local persons and problems. Such as Aeschylus and Euripides, as they are portrayed in the Frogs, stand for the two successive ages which Athens has passed.  Through their logic and counter logic, Aristophanes depicts the contemporary society very artistically. Euripides for example, before the verdict of Diagnosis claims:

“I see no reason at all why I should withdraw. I happen to be better poet”

It indicates that the people of the society were not respectful the judiciary. It also reminds us the proverbs “Empty vessel sounds much”.He also says indicating Aeschylus’ contribution:

“All that rugged grandeur- it is all so uncultivated”

This speech of Euripides toward Aeschylus proves that there was no respect to the elderly people in the society.  

Besides, there was no respect to the gods and goddess. Sometimes, most undignified terms are used for Dionysus, the god of festival. He is called ‘fatty’ by Caron, the boatman and the later pushes him down as if the god were an ordinary man. From this behaviour we can well understand how the lower class people like Caron misbehaved with the respectful person even with Dionysus. 
Again through the counter attack of Aeschylus to Euripides, the author shows us the moral degradation of that society:

“You allow your heroes to sing and dance like Cretans. You build your plots round unsavory topics like incest and …… ”

In other place, Aeschylus describes his actress as ‘erotic female’
As a critic of his age, Aristophanesal ways attacks the new:  new manners, new religions, new philosophy and literature. He feels that everything new is likely to be unwise and vicious. His plays are a protest against the degeneration of his age. He shows Euripides as being deviated from religion through his own prayer:  

“Hail, Ether, my grazing ground! Hail, Pivot of my Tongue! Hail, Mind!Hail, Sentient Nostrils! Inspire me with all that right answers, amen!”

He also describes the mean tendency of not paying tax of the higher class society through Aeschylus’ voice:

“Well, nowadays you cannot get the wealthier classes to pay their naval-defence contributions. They dress up in rags and tell you how poor they are.”

Moreover, in the frogs there are other scenes such as whipping scene, the scene before Pluto’s palace, where Dionysus is caricatured etc. which have lead some critics to conclude Aristophanes satire on Dionysus and religion reveals the fact that the Athenian people had no respect for the traditional gods and religion. 
Besides, the dialogue between two slaves, Xanthias and Aeacus, contains almost all the elements of social comedy. Xanthias describes that his master Dionysus “does nothing but game and drink” when Aeacus’ thinks him to be “quite the gentleman”.They find life “below stairs” is very much same and both agree that the most enjoyable thing for them is to discuss their masters’ secrets. 
While the two slaves are engaged in this interesting conversation, a noise outside attracts their attention. Then they find “it is only Aeschylus and Euripides quarreling. There is a tremendous rivalry going on just among these dead people”. 

In fine, we can say that Aristophanes, in the Frogs, cover all sorts of social problems prevalent in the Greek society. He wants to moderate whatever is vicious or ridiculous in the society. So,Euripides frogs the underlying sprite of this comedy is essentially ethical and social. 

This paper is prepared for you by Talim Enam, BA (Hons), MA in English.

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