Das komische Potential des Rechts
Abstract
This study asks what the importance of law is in the construction of the plot of Menander’s Dyskolos and Aspis. Law is here assigned three functions: The legal conflict that underlies these dramas, firstly, creates a constructed and hence comic initial situation as starting point. This initial situtation, secondly, determines the possible behaviour of the comic characters and leads to the comic actions of the plays. Thirdly, the law links the world of the stage to the world of the spectators. To demonstrate these three functions within the comedies, the two plays are presented and analysed with respect to their legal conflict. The findings are summarised and in conclusion a more general consideration of the role of law in Menander’s comedies is presented, with reference also to a fabula incerta (P. Cairensis 43227). This general review is intended to illuminate both the poet’s working method and the connection of New Comedy to its own times.
Acknowledgements
Für Hinweise und Kritik danke ich den Zuhörern meines Vortrags bei den Aquilonia an der FU Berlin, den Gutachtern des Philologus sowie Frau M. Bernhardt und Herrn A. Weidner.
Verzeichnis der verwendeten Literatur
Menander, Reliquiae selectae, ed. F. H. Sandbach, Oxford 21990. Search in Google Scholar
W. G. Arnott, „Menander’s Fabula Incerta“, ZPE 123, 1998, 49–58.Search in Google Scholar
–, „Moral Values in Menander“, Philologus 125, 1981, 215–227.10.1524/phil.1981.125.12.215Search in Google Scholar
D. C. Beroutsos, A Commentary on the „Aspis“ of Menander. Part One: Lines 1–298 (Hypomnemata 157), Göttingen 2005.10.13109/9783666252563Search in Google Scholar
H. D. Blume, Menander (Erträge der Forschung 293), Darmstadt 1998.Search in Google Scholar
P. G. McC. Brown, „Menander’s Dramatic Technique and the Law of Athens“, CQ 33, 1983, 412–420.10.1017/S0009838800034674Search in Google Scholar
D. M. MacDowell, „Love versus the Law. An Essay in Menander’s ‚Aspis‘“, G&R 29, 1982, 42–52.10.1017/S0017383500028321Search in Google Scholar
A. W. Gomme/F. H. Sandbach, Menander. A Commentary, Oxford 1973.Search in Google Scholar
A. R. W. Harrison, The Law of Athens. Volume I, The Family and Property, London 21998.Search in Google Scholar
S. Ireland, „New Comedy“, in: G. W. Dobrow (Hg.), Brill’s Companion to the Study of Greek Comedy, Leiden/Boston 2010, 333–396.10.1163/9789004188846_010Search in Google Scholar
A. Körte, „Menanders Fabula Incerta“, Hermes 72, 1937, 50–77.Search in Google Scholar
H. Lloyd-Jones, „Menander’s Aspis“, GRBS 12, 1971, 175–195.10.1016/0032-3861(71)90045-0Search in Google Scholar
U. E. Paoli, „Note giuridiche sul Dyskolos di Menandro“, MH 18, 1961, 53–62.Search in Google Scholar
C. B. Patterson, The Family in Greek History, Cambridge/London 1998.Search in Google Scholar
M. Pfister, Das Drama. Theorie und Analyse, Paderborn 112001.Search in Google Scholar
V. J. Rosivach, „Class Matters in the Dyskolos of Menander“, CQ 51, 2001, 127–143.10.1093/cq/51.1.127Search in Google Scholar
A. C. Scafuro, The Forensic Stage. Settling Disputes in Graeco-Roman Comedy, Oxford 1997.10.1017/CBO9780511583001Search in Google Scholar
A. Schäfer, Menanders Dyskolos, Untersuchungen zur dramatischen Technik. Mit einem kritisch-exegetischen Anhang (Beiträge zur Klassischen Philologie 14), Meisenheim am Glan 1965.Search in Google Scholar
W. Schmitz, Nachbarschaft und Dorfgemeinschaft im archaischen und klassischen Griechenland (Klio. Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte, Beihefte, NF 7), Berlin 2004.10.1524/9783050048369Search in Google Scholar
I. Tegyey, „Erwartungen und Enttäuschungen des Publikums von Menander“, AAntHung 48, 2008, 45–65.10.1556/AAnt.48.2008.1-2.7Search in Google Scholar
K. Treu, „Menanders Menschen als Polisbürger“, Philologus 125, 1981, 211–214.10.1524/phil.1981.125.12.211Search in Google Scholar
G. Vogt-Spira, Dramaturgie des Zufalls. Tyche und Handeln in der Komödie Menanders (Zetemata 88), München 1992.Search in Google Scholar
G. Williams, „Some problems in the construction of Plautus’ Pseudolus“, Hermes 84, 1956, 424–455.Search in Google Scholar
N. Zagagi, The Comedy of Menander. Convention, Variation and Originality, London 1994.Search in Google Scholar
© 2015 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelseiten
- Titelseiten
- Editorial
- Aufsätze
- Negotiating Seduction: Archilochus’ Cologne Epode and the Transformation of Epic
- Zur Deutung der Digression des Theaitet (172c–177c)
- Das komische Potential des Rechts
- An Unknown Satyr Play in Prop. 2.32.35–38
- Horace c. 1.11: Wintry Thoughts on a Winter’s Day ... and a Hint of Spring
- Hannibal’s March and Roman Imperial Space in Livy, Ab urbe condita, Book 21
- Kalkuliertes Missverstehen?
- Una preghiera al nobile perduto: nota a Iuv. 8,26–30
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelseiten
- Titelseiten
- Editorial
- Aufsätze
- Negotiating Seduction: Archilochus’ Cologne Epode and the Transformation of Epic
- Zur Deutung der Digression des Theaitet (172c–177c)
- Das komische Potential des Rechts
- An Unknown Satyr Play in Prop. 2.32.35–38
- Horace c. 1.11: Wintry Thoughts on a Winter’s Day ... and a Hint of Spring
- Hannibal’s March and Roman Imperial Space in Livy, Ab urbe condita, Book 21
- Kalkuliertes Missverstehen?
- Una preghiera al nobile perduto: nota a Iuv. 8,26–30
