Peace (play)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peace
Sketch of Aristophanes
Written by	Aristophanes
Chorus	husbandmen
Characters	Trygaeus servants of Trygaeus daughters of Trygaeus Hermes War Havoc Hierocles a sickle-maker a crest-maker a trumpet-maker a helmet-maker a spear-maker son of Lamachus son of Cleonymus
Setting	a farmyard

Peace is a comedy written and produced by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It first appeared in 421 BC and was awarded second prize for that year in Athens. As with many of his plays, Aristophanes attacks and lampoons his contemporaries, including Euripides, Carcinus, and especially Cleon. The jubilant spirit of celebration, contrasting strongly with the sceptical tone of Aristophanes' other 'peace' plays (Lysistrata and The Acharnians), can be attributed to the fact it was written shortly before the Peace of Nicias was sworn.

[edit] Plot

The elderly farmer Trygaeus is the central figure of the play. With Athens and Sparta fighting each other in the Peloponnesian War, Trygaeus mounts a giant dung beetle in the style of the hero Bellerophon mounting Pegasus and flies to heaven for an audience with Zeus, king of the gods. This part contains a great deal of scatology, as dung beetles feed off faeces. Trygaeus' servants are ordered to roll the faeces for the beetle, and the townspeople are told to hide the smells over their own so the beetle won't get tempted by it during the flight.

When Trygaeus arrives at the halls of Zeus, all the Olympian gods save Hermes have left heaven in the hands of War and his servant Havoc. It is learned that Peace has been imprisoned in a deep pit covered in heavy stones. War and Havoc are in the middle of plotting destructions for the Greeks. Using a giant mortar and ingredients that represent the various city states, they plan on crushing them with a giant pestal. However, a giant pestle is nowhere to be found, and they become distracted in their search. The 'pestle' referred to is Cleon, as the 'pestle' was one of his many nicknames. The second 'pestle' mentioned, is the Spartan officer, Brasidas. Aristophanes' use of the 'pestle' for both of these men infers that Cleon was in the same league as Brasidas, and therefore an enemy of the state.

Using this opportunity Trygaeus calls upon the chorus (farmers of various Greek city-states) to help him rescue Peace. With the aid of members of the chorus, Trygaeus attempts to remove the stones. Those whose careers profit from war, such as weapon smiths, work against them. But after a great deal of effort, Peace is finally released, and with her enter her companions Harvest and Festival. Peace is still upset over how the Greeks have treated her (such as the many denials of treaties during the Peloponnesian War), and will only talk to Trygaeus and the other Greeks through Hermes. Eventually, she is persuaded to return to Athens with the Greeks.

Trygaeus agrees to marry Harvest (Opora), and Festival is sent with another Greek to prepare a peace celebration. A sheep is chosen for the sacrifice, however no blood is allowed on the alter, as "blood cannot please Peace". An oracle named Hierocles drops by uninvited and wishes to help himself to the meat. However, after he begins to tell prophesies against Peace, he is beaten and forcibly removed.

Arms merchants then enter the town attempting to sell their wares for whatever small sum they can get; since the war is over their wares are no longer needed. Trygaeus adds insult to injury, saying such things as he'll buy a breast plate and use it as a stool, or buy spears to use as vine props. Insulted, they leave Athens in time for the wedding of Trygaeus and Harvest.