Old Comedy, a vibrant form of ancient Greek theater, thrived on satirical humor and social commentary. Its unique structure, featuring prologues, episodes, and choral interludes, provided a platform for playwrights to mock politicians, philosophers, and societal norms.

These comedies blended fantastical elements with real-world references, creating an absurd yet relatable world. Through clever wordplay, outrageous plots, and biting satire, Old Comedy tackled pressing issues of Athenian society, making it a powerful tool for political and social critique.

Structure of Old Comedy

Prologue and Main Action

• Old Comedy plays typically began with a prologue that introduced the main character and their dilemma or goal
  • The prologue often broke the fourth wall, allowing the main character to address the audience directly
• The main action of the play was divided into episodes, separated by choral interludes called parabases
  • During parabases, the chorus directly addressed the audience on topics related to the play's themes or current events (politics, social issues)

Agon and Clever Plans

• Old Comedy often featured a contest or debate, called an agon, between two characters representing opposing viewpoints or ideas
  • The chorus acted as a judge or mediator during the agon
• The plays frequently included a "happy idea" or "clever plan" devised by the main character to solve their problem or achieve their goal
  • These plans often involved fantastical or absurd solutions (traveling to the underworld, building a city in the clouds)

Resolution and Celebration

• Old Comedy plays typically ended with a festive celebration or a marriage
  • The celebration represented the triumph of the main character and the resolution of the conflict
• The resolution often involved a reversal of fortune or a return to a state of harmony and order
  • This could include the overthrow of a corrupt leader or the restoration of a character's status or reputation

Satire in Old Comedy

Criticism and Mockery

• Old Comedy playwrights often used satire to criticize and mock prominent figures, institutions, and ideas in Athenian society
  • Targets of satire included politicians (Cleon), philosophers (Socrates), and religious practices (Eleusinian Mysteries)
• Personal attacks, caricatures, and ad hominem humor were common in Old Comedy
  • Specific individuals or groups were targeted for ridicule and criticism (Euripides, Sophists)

Parody and Fantastical Elements

• Parody was employed to imitate and exaggerate the style, language, or themes of other literary works
  • Old Comedy often parodied tragic plays to create humorous effects and highlight the absurdity of certain conventions
• Old Comedy plays blended fantastical elements with real-world references
  • This created a heightened and absurd world that allowed for sharper social and political commentary (talking animals, gods intervening in human affairs)

Political Commentary

• Political commentary was a central feature of Old Comedy
  • Playwrights used their plays to address current events, policies, and rivalries in Athenian politics (Peloponnesian War, ostracism)
• Old Comedy often took a critical or subversive stance towards political issues
  • Plays questioned the wisdom of military campaigns or criticized the influence of demagogues and orators

Chorus in Old Comedy

Composition and Performance

• The chorus in Old Comedy typically consisted of 24 male actors
  • The chorus represented a specific group related to the play's themes (wasps in "The Wasps", birds in "The Birds", clouds in "The Clouds")
• The chorus performed songs, dances, and chants during the parabases and other interludes
  • These performances often commented on the action of the play or addressed the audience directly

Role and Relationship with Audience

• The chorus served as a bridge between the world of the play and the real world of the audience
  • It offered a voice of reason, criticism, or support for the main characters and their actions
• The chorus could also function as a stand-in for the audience
  • It expressed the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the audience to the events of the play
• The relationship between the chorus and the audience was interactive and dynamic
  • The chorus often encouraged the audience to participate in the performance through clapping, chanting, or other responses

Themes of Old Comedy

Politics and Society

• Old Comedy often explored themes related to Athenian politics
  • Plays addressed issues such as the abuse of power, corruption, and the role of the citizen in democracy
• Social and cultural themes were also prevalent in Old Comedy
  • Playwrights examined the relationship between the sexes (Lysistrata), the role of education and intellectualism in society (The Clouds), and the influence of foreign cultures on Athenian life (The Acharnians)

Religion and the Individual

• Religious themes and motifs were frequently incorporated into Old Comedy plays
  • Playwrights satirized religious practices, myths, and beliefs (The Frogs, The Birds)
• The plays often dealt with the theme of the individual versus society
  • Main characters challenged or subverted social norms and expectations (Dikaiopolis in The Acharnians, Trygaeus in Peace)

Utopia and the Everyman

• The idea of the "golden age" or a utopian society was a recurring motif in Old Comedy
  • Characters often sought to create or return to an idealized past or future (Peisetaerus in The Birds, Praxagora in Assemblywomen)
• Old Comedy plays frequently explored the theme of the "everyman" or the ordinary citizen
  • Relatable characters and situations were used to critique and comment on Athenian society (Strepsiades in The Clouds, Philocleon in The Wasps)