The Eleven Comedies, Volume 2

by Aristophanes

"The Eleven Comedies, Volume 2" by Aristophanes is a collection of comedic plays, written during the classical period of ancient Greece. This volume includes translations of several of Aristophanes' notable works, with a focus on satire directed at various aspects of Athenian life and society, particularly highlighting the absurdities of legal proceedings and social customs through clever characters and engaging plots. The opening portion of the volume introduces "The Wasps," one of Aristophanes' comedies, which centers around Philocleon, an elderly man obsessed with his role as a juryman, and his son, Bdelycleon, who wishes to help him abandon this unhealthy obsession. Bdelycleon's attempts to keep his father from attending the courts lead to humorous escapades, including Philocleon's ludicrous efforts to escape imprisonment in their home. The opening part sets the stage for a vivid exploration of the comical struggles between father and son, the farcical elements of their conflict, and Aristophanes' pointed commentary on the Athenian judicial system and the obsession with litigation that characterized his society.