The battle of two scoundrels for the top job; The Knights, Aristophanes

 Why you might read The Knights?

The Knights gives us insight into the politics of Athens following the Peloponnesian war. It shows us that the Athenians were to an extent self-aware of the corruption in their politics and in politicians pandering to the populace.

For my Self Education project, it is part of the whole picture of Aristophanes. Who so far is a comedic and satirical writer, but unafraid to upset the apple cart.

Story of The Knights

The Knights is a play of two acts with three scenes but the same set. It is set in Athens during the Peloponnesian war and was also performed then. It starts with two slaves complaining about the current master. They also complain that he sucks up to thepeople. The master beats them day in and day out. They conspire to steal from him his oracle. Once they have it, it reveals that he will be replaced by a sausage seller. One then chances on by and they convince him that he should vie for the top spot.

The master Paphlagonian enters and threatens the slaves with more beatings. The sausage seller intervenes and gets into an argument with Paphlagonian. After a while, Paphlagonian runs off to the debating chamber to put the sausage seller on charges. The seller charges off to take him on in the assembly.

The two return and the sausage seller tells of his victory. Then thepeople comes out of the house.  The sausage seller then talks his way into becoming his agent. So that he can do things on thepeoples behalf instead of Paphlagonian. Paphlagonian then realised the oracle and starts asking questions of the sausage seller. He quickly finds that he fills the oracle and gives up the fight. Paphlagonian then goes and sells sausages in the other man's place.

Reflections on The Knights

Aristophanes is very critical of politicians in this piece. He calls them liars and thieves. He does so under the guise of convincing the sausage seller he has what it takes for politics. Either it was a commonly held belief or the theater was a safe space to make these remarks. It is also a piece of humor that could be agreed with safely enough even if you would not dare say it yourself.

The namesake of the Knights only have a passing role as the chorus. The meat of the play has nothing to do with them in particular. Because of this, I wonder why it has been named such or why it has not had a second name attached.

What other have to say about The Knights

"It won first prize at the Lenaia festival when it was produced in 424 BCE. The play is a satire on political and social life in 5th Century BCE Athens" From Classical Literature

"Cleon, however, is mentioned only once by name and is rather transparently represented in the figure of Paphlagon." From Greek Mythology

Comparisons with other texts

Like The Birds, this is a comedy but unlike it, this is more satirical. The Knights is far more political than The Birds which is more fantastical in its approach. Like the Birds, the titular characters form the chorus.

Like The Acharnians which is also satire and political commentary. The biggest difference is that The Knights is after the war while The Acharnians is during the war. As such The Knights deals with power after the conflict. While The Acharnians deals with the absurdities of the war itself.

Conclusion

The Knights is a satirical play about the struggle for power and control after the war. The titular characters are actually the chorus and not a very important part of the play. The sausage seller upset the incumbent to take control of thepeople a character used to represent the people of Athens.

Have you read The Knights? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Knights but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Knights.