Of Birds and Tyrants
An Analysis of the Construction of the Tyrant in Aristophanes' Play Birds
Keywords:
Demagogy, Rhetoric, Sophistry, TyrannyAbstract
Abstract: One of the objectives of this research is to analyze and unravel the underlying political and social message in Aristophanes' play, The Birds, to warn the audience in the context of the Peloponnesian War (450-385 BC) and the launch of the expedition to Sicily at the behest of the Athenian politician Alcibiades.
The ambiguity of the play and the lack of specific mentions of politicians of the time are considered and evaluated. However, it is possible to trace references to historical events and figures from Athens' past. Therefore, this study postulates and concludes that it is highly probable that Aristophanes is warning citizens against those politicians who use demagogic skills and sophistical strategies to tyrannize and absolutize their power, thereby destroying Athenian democracy.
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