Save The Frogs

As the only ancient Greek comedian whose work has survived, Aristophanes' importance is impossible to exaggerate. He has not only immensely influenced comedy - and drama and literature generally - but is also practically the only source giving any idea what Greek comedy was like, making his work of immense historical value. Of course, as with all comedy that is truly universal, one need not know or even think about any of this. He is more than entertaining in his own right - indeed, still screamingly funny. Reading him, we get a profound sense of just how little comedy has changed. It is not just that what was funny nearly 2,500 years ago is still funny; techniques are basically unchanged, subject matter only being ephemeral. Aristophanes was above all a satirist, which inevitably means that many of the things he mocked and parodied are no longer intelligible without notes. We can still appreciate these with help, but what truly makes him worth reading is that the spirit of the satire - what really matters in contrast to passing fodder - continues to shine through distinctly. Human folly has changed little - has probably only increased if anything. His general observations are thus still funny - and, to those who look below the surface, still damning. Perhaps more immediately, it is striking to see that humor many think of as distinctly modern - religious blasphemy, bathroom humor, sexual humor - was as common and at least as good this long ago. Aristophanes also delights in more "serious" humor like puns and other wordplay; simply put, whether one prefers high- or low-brow, he has something for all. Humor aside, his sheer creativity still impresses; his plots and characters show near-boundless imagination and would be a significant accomplishment in even the most ostensibly serious artist. All this makes him almost unbelievably accessible - in translation of course; his tragedian contemporaries take a certain mindset and considerable dedication to appreciate, all but excluding casual readers. However, anyone can read Aristophanes with enjoyment, which is not the least of his virtues.

The Frogs may be Aristophanes' masterpiece. He satirized tragedians frequently, but this is notable in focusing almost entirely on them; indeed, Aeschylus and Euripides are characters. It ostensibly does little more than roast the latter in the former's favor and would be entertaining enough if it did nothing else; whether or not we agree, it is hard to deny some of the mocking points - and impossible not to laugh. However, there is far more to the play; it essentially delineates the two main ways that Athenians looked at the world as epitomized by these dramatists. The pros and cons of both are shown, but Aristophanes clearly favors the Aeschylean mode, poking relentless fun at the Euripidean. This had great sociopolitical significance for many reasons - not least because of looming war - but was also broadly philosophical, which is why it is still very much pertinent. But again, one need not worry that humor is lacking; the play is downright hilarious and has Aristophanes' funniest and most memorable songs. It is quite simply one of the best comedies ever.

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