Home Triumph of Hilarity? Some Reflections on the Structure and Function of the Final Scenes in Aristophanic Comedy
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Triumph of Hilarity? Some Reflections on the Structure and Function of the Final Scenes in Aristophanic Comedy

  • Serena Pirrotta EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: July 15, 2016
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Abstract:

The final scenes of Aristophanic comedies have been usually interpreted as disconnected from the rest of the plot: as a pure expression of joy, a cheerful celebration of a successful comic hero. The present work offers an attempt to confute this interpretation. A systematic analysis of the exodoi of selected plays – especially Knights, Wasps, Acharnians and Peace – shows that the final scenes are indeed well integrated into the dramatic structure, being prepared during the course of dramatic action, and that the allegedly festive atmosphere does not point to a happy ending in the true sense of the word. Instead of providing an istance of comic relief to the audience, the ending would leave them with an impression of “cheerful desperation”, expressing a deeply pessimistic view of the future of the Athenian Polis.


Article Note:

This article results from a paper given at the Gasparov readings 2012 “Structure of Classical Drama” (Moscow, Russian State University for the Humanities, April 19–21,2012). I thank Merryl Rebello for having traslated most parts of the paper into English.


Bibliography

Bowie, A. M. (1993), Aristophanes. Myth, Ritual and Comedy, Cambridge.10.1017/CBO9780511518362Search in Google Scholar

Brock, R. W. (1986), “The double plot in Aristophanes’ Knights”, in: GRBS 27, 15–27.Search in Google Scholar

Carey, C. (2000), “Old Comedy and the Sophists”, in: D. Harvey / J. Wilkins (eds.), The Rival of Aristophanes, Swansea, 419–438.Search in Google Scholar

Cassio, A. C. (1985), Commedia e partecipazione. La Pace di Aristofane, Napoli.Search in Google Scholar

Cortassa, G. (1994), “Splendida Atene incoronata di viole. L’ambiguo finale dei Cavalieri di Aristofane”, in: G. Barberi Squarotti et al. (eds.), Voce di molte acque, Miscellanea di studi offerti a Eugenio Corsini, Torino, 71–77.Search in Google Scholar

Di Bari, M. F. (2013), Scene finali di Aristofane. Cavalieri, Nuvole, Tesmoforiazuse, Lecce / Brescia.Search in Google Scholar

Dover, K. J. (1972), Aristophanic Comedy, London.Search in Google Scholar

Henderson, J. (2003), “Demos, Demagogue, Tyrant in Attic Old Comedy”, in: K. A. Morgan (ed.), Popular Tyranny. Sovereignty and its Discontents in Ancient Greece, Austin, 155–179.10.7560/752764-008Search in Google Scholar

Kirchhoff, A.(1878), “Zu Aristophanes”, in: Hermes 13, 287–297.Search in Google Scholar

Landfester, M. (1967), Die Ritter des Aristophanes, Amsterdem.Search in Google Scholar

Lenz, L. (1980), “Komik und Kritik in Aristophanes’ ‘Wespen’”, in: Hermes 108, 15–44.Search in Google Scholar

Mazon, P. (1904), Essai sur la composition des comédies d’Aristophane, Paris.Search in Google Scholar

McLeish, K. (1980), The Theatre of Aristophanes, London.Search in Google Scholar

Napolitano, M. (2012), I Kolakes di Eupoli. Introduzione, traduzione e commento, Mainz.Search in Google Scholar

Napolitano, M. (2014), “Tra trionfo e disincanto. I finali di Aristofane”, in A. Camerotto / F. M. Pontani (eds.), L’esilio della bellezza, Milano / Udine.Search in Google Scholar

Napolitano, M. (2015), “Alcune riflessioni sui finali di Aristofane”, in: M. Taufer (ed.), Studi sulla commedia attica, Freiburg i. Br. / Berlin / Vienna, 81–102.Search in Google Scholar

Olson, S. D. (1998), Aristophanes. Peace, Oxford.10.1093/actrade/9780198140818.book.1Search in Google Scholar

Olson, S. D. Aristophanes. Acharnians, Oxford.Search in Google Scholar

Rossi, L. E. (2003), “La polis come protagonista eroico della commedia antica”, in: Il teatro e la città. Poetica e politica nel dramma attico del quinto secolo. Atti del Convegno Internazionale. Siracusa, 19–22 settembre 2001. Quaderni di Dioniso I, Palermo.Search in Google Scholar

Sommerstein, A. H. (1980), The Comedies of Aristophanes. 1. Acharnians, Warminster.Search in Google Scholar

Sommerstein, A. H. (1981), The Comedies of Aristophanes. 2. Knights, Warminster.10.3828/liverpool/9780856681776.003.0001Search in Google Scholar

Sommerstein, A. H. (1985), The Comedies of Aristophanes. 5. Peace, Warminster.Search in Google Scholar

Totaro, P. (²2000), Le seconde parabasi di Aristofane. «Drama» Beih. 9, Stuttgart / Weimar.10.1007/978-3-476-04321-4Search in Google Scholar

Vaio, J. (1971), “Aristophanes’ Wasps. The Relevance of the Final Scenes”, in: GRBS 12, 335–351.Search in Google Scholar

Zimmermann, B. (1985–1987), Untersuchungen zur Form und dramatischen Technik der Aristophanischen Komödien,vol. I–III, Königstein im Taunus.Search in Google Scholar

Zimmermann, B. (2006), “Pathei Mathos: strutture tragiche nelle Nuvole di Aristofane”, in E. Medda / M. S. Mirto / M. P. Pattoni (eds.), ΚΩΜΩΙΔΟΤΡΑΓΩΙΔΙΑ. Intersezioni del tragico e del comico nel teatro del V sec. a. C., Pisa, 327–335.Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2016-7-15
Published in Print: 2016-7-15

© De Gruyter 2016

Downloaded on 13.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/tc-2016-0003/html
Scroll to top button