The Clouds by Aristophanes
"The Clouds" is a comedic play by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, written around 423 BCE. The story follows Strepsiades, a wealthy Athenian who becomes impoverished due to the extravagant lifestyle of his son, Pheidippides. Desperate to escape his financial troubles, Strepsiades is drawn to the teachings of the Sophists, who claim to offer new forms of logic that could help him evade his creditors. When Pheidippides initially refuses to attend the Sophist school, Strepsiades decides to enroll himself, hoping to learn these clever argumentative techniques.
At the school, he meets Socrates, who attempts to teach him but ultimately finds Strepsiades too old to grasp the concepts. After some struggle, Strepsiades convinces Pheidippides to join, believing that his son's newfound knowledge will save them. However, the situation takes a turn when Pheidippides uses his Sophist training to justify abusive behavior towards his father, leading Strepsiades to see the destructive potential of such teachings. In a moment of disillusionment, he sets fire to the school, viewing it as a necessary act to rid society of dangerous ideas. "The Clouds" serves as both a critique of contemporary educational practices and a commentary on the moral implications of rhetoric and logic in society.
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The Clouds by Aristophanes
First produced:Nephelai, 423 b.c.e. (English translation, 1708)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Social satire
Time of plot: Fifth century b.c.e.
Locale: Athens
Principal characters
Strepsiades , an Athenian gentlemanPheidippides , his sonSocrates , a Sophist philosopher
The Story:
Strepsiades, a rich gentleman of Athens, is plunged into poverty and debt by his profligate son, Pheidippides. Hounded by his son’s creditors, Strepsiades ponders ways to prevent complete ruin. Hearing reports that the Sophists teach a new logic that can be used to confuse one’s creditors and so get one out of debt, Strepsiades sees in the Sophist teachings a possible solution to his problem. He pleads with Pheidippides to enter the school of the Sophists and learn the new doctrines. When Pheidippides, more interested in horse racing than in learning, refuses to become a pupil, Strepsiades denounces his son as a wastrel and decides to enroll himself.
He goes to the Thoughtery or Thinking-School, which is the term used for the classroom of the Sophists, and asks to see Socrates, the philosopher. After Strepsiades explains his purpose, Socrates proceeds to demonstrate several logical conclusions of the new school. More certain than ever that the new logic will save him from ruin and disgrace, Strepsiades pleads until Socrates admits him to the Thoughtery.
Unfortunately, Strepsiades proves too old to master the Sophist technique in the classroom. Socrates then decides that Strepsiades can learn to do his thinking outdoors. When Socrates puts questions concerning poetry to Strepsiades, his answers show such complete ignorance that Socrates finally admits defeat and returns to the Thoughtery. Strepsiades, disgusted with his own efforts, decides that he will either make Pheidippides go to the Sophist school or turn him out of the house. Approached a second time by his father, Pheidippides again protests against enrolling in the school but finally yields to his father’s demands. Strepsiades believes that all now will be well.
Some time afterward Strepsiades goes to learn what progress his son has made. Socrates assures him that Pheidippides has done well. At this news, Strepsiades feels sure that his plan was a good one and that the new logic, as learned by his son, will soon deliver him from his creditors. He asks Socrates to call Pheidippides from the classroom. When Pheidippides emerges, Strepsiades greets him between tears and laughter and says it is fitting that he should be saved by the son who plunged him into debt.
He asks Pheidippides to demonstrate his new learning, and Strepsiades is amazed by the cunning of the new logic. At that moment one of Strepsiades’ creditors appears to demand money that is owed him for a horse. Strepsiades, confident that the Sophist-taught Pheidippides can turn the tables on any creditor in the law court, refuses to pay, ignoring threats of court action. He treats a second creditor in the same way and goes home convinced that the new logic, as argued by Pheidippides, will save him in the pending lawsuits.
It becomes a different matter, however, when Pheidippides proceeds to demonstrate the Sophist teaching at home. Arguing that Strepsiades beat him often for his own good, Pheidippides buffets his father during a family argument and declares that he is beating Strepsiades for his own good. The old man protests, but with the new logic Pheidippides silences his protests and threatens to beat his mother on the same principle.
Strepsiades realizes that the Sophists can justify all manner of evil with their tricky logic. Thinking the teachings dangerous to the youth of Athens, he takes a torch and sets fire to the Thoughtery. As Socrates and the Sophist disciples scream their objection, the Thoughtery goes up in flames. Strepsiades watches it burn, certain that he is eliminating an evil.
Bibliography
Aristophanes. The Clouds. Translated by William Arrowsmith with sketches by Thomas McClure. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1962. Discusses the history of the play and how it was originally performed. Claims Aristophanes is exploiting Socrates as a convenient comic representative of sophistic corruption. Excellent notes and glossary.
Arnott, Peter. An Introduction to the Greek Theatre. London: Macmillan, 1959. Examines Aristophanes as a comic writer. Asserts the satire of The Clouds is lost to an audience with no understanding of sophistic philosophy.
Butler, James H. The Theatre and Drama of Greece and Rome. San Francisco: Chandler, 1972. Claims Aristophanes was the greatest master of Grecian Old Comedy. Says The Clouds shows the decadence of Athens as well as the Sophists who corrupted it. Places The Clouds in the context of Old Comedy.
Freydberg, Bernard. “Clouds and the Measuring of Logos.” In Philosophy and Comedy: Aristophanes, Logos, and Eros. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2008. Freydberg analyzes the philosophical concepts in The Clouds and several other plays by Aristophanes.
Hadas, Moses. A History of Greek Literature. New York: Columbia University Press, 1953. Asserts that Aristophanes handles Socrates kindly compared to other Greek playwrights. Covers the history of The Clouds’ production as well as modern audiences’ reactions to the treatment of Socrates in the play.
O’Regan, Daphne Elizabeth. Rhetoric, Comedy, and the Violence of Language in Aristophanes’ “Clouds.” New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. O’Regan’s analysis of The Clouds focuses on logos, or the power of reasoning, describing how that power is consistently defeated in the play when it is confronted by human desire.
Silk, M. S. Aristophanes and the Definition of Comedy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Silk looks at Aristophanes not as merely an ancient Greek dramatist but also as one of the world’s great poets. He analyzes The Clouds and the other plays to examine their language, style, lyric poetry, character, and structure.
Snell, Bruno. Poetry and Society: The Role of Poetry in Ancient Greece. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1971. Claims Aristophanes sees most wise men as mere busybodies and fools, such as he portrays Socrates to be in The Clouds. Compares the play to other dramatic works.