Analysis of "The Clouds" by Aristophanes
During an annual festival in Greece circa 534 B.C.E., Greek Drama was developed as a form of art. The annual festival became a competition of revelry and ritual amongst playwrights and producers. The Clouds written by Aristophanes redefined the competition bringing his own beliefs of society and ideologies to the forefront of his message with in the play. From the brilliant comical mind of Aristophanes themes, motifs and symbols play a crucial role as serving for the foundation of his message with in the play. The Clouds speaks to issues of Generational Gaps, New School and Old School thought, Just versus Unjust arguments, Think Tanks, and takes a strong stance for his conservative views so much in that he faced prosecution. The beauty with in this play is that all of these elements have universal implications and rooted deeply in intelligence expressed by humor. Aristophanes writes to the struggles of generational gaps and the issues that it would have not only for the characters with in the play, but also the problems that would develop in Greek society. Throughout the span of history, in all cultures, generations have existed; in some more than others these generations are more obviously defined. Each of these generations has their own social norms that provide a basis for perception, pattern and theme with in the specific cultural system. Inevitably, differences in thought will occur between generation causing generational gaps, these gaps bring reason and understanding when conflict arises between generations. To add to the complexity of the generational gap, Aristophanes focuses on the relationship between father and son. With in the play continual struggle between generational gaps and the tension and destruction it brings upon a father to son relationship. Clouds become particularly fascinating because of its relational elements, which correspond with my own life, more specifically, the relationship between my father and I. Strepsiades represents