Betrayal of love at Troy; Troilus and Criseyde, Chaucer

 Why you might read Troilus and Criseyde?

Troilus and Criseyde is the second most well know Chaucer Poem. It is also complete which the more well-known Canatbury tales is not.

In my Self Education project, it helps to form a rounded understanding of Chaucer. It also serves as a lesson in Middle English before the pronunciation shift.

The story of Troilus and Criseyde

Troilus and Criseyde is a poem in five parts. It happens predominantly in Troy during the truce in the Trojan siege by the Greeks. It starts with the ice-cold Troilus seeing Criseyde across the room at the temple in Troy. He is smitten with her and immediately starts pining over here. She has also seen him and is also smitten. Luckily for them, her uncle who is her guardian realises this. He eventually sets up a meeting for them socially and they fall even further.

Eventually, the uncle sneaks Troilus into Criseyde's room by night. The two become lovers. Not long after this, a prisoner exchange is arranged between the two warring parties. Criseyde's father defected to the Greek side early in the war and now wants her to come to join him. So the swap includes Criseyde which she and Troilus are unhappy about. Troilus wants them to run away together. Criseyde wants to go but says she will return in ten days. In the end, things go Criseyde's way and Troilus escorts her to the Trojan lines.

Ten days come and go and Criseyde does not return. Troilus starts writing her letters but gets no reply. In this time she has fallen in love with one of the Greek warriors. Because of this, she has no intention to return to Troilus. She eventually writes him a letter telling him so, this leaves him distraught. This is where the poem chooses to end. Chaucer ends with an invocation to Christ.

Reflections on Troilus and Criseyde

I found the juxtaposition of Trojan times and events with the Chivalric people a little hard to keep straight at times. This is probably in part because as a modern reader I am dealing with two contrasting time periods being presented at once. This would have not been the case for a reader at the time of writing as they would have been living in one of them. Also as a modern reader, I am used to modern historical fiction that tries to be as true to the context and times as possible.

The betrayal itself is quite interesting. It seems that things between Troilus and Criseyde rather brief. Even though the love affair is rather intense. So it is not surprising that Criseyde falls for another in just ten days. Troilus does not even consider others even after such a short time. I wonder if these more impassioned affairs were more common in Chaucer's time. It could be just a poetic device to make life seem more intense in the story than in reality.

What others have to say about Troilus and Criseyde

"The love affair must remain secret to protect her honour; Troilus and Criseyde cannot marry because he is a prince and she is the daughter of a traitor; and nor can they leave Troy and abandon their city." From The Conversation

"Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer is widely regarded as one of his more influential works, alongside The Canterbury Tales." From English Literature

Comparisons to other texts

Like Anelida and Arcite we have a betrayal story. Troilus and Criseyde seem more of a whirlwind romance. By comparison, Anelida and Arcite seem a lot more stable as a starting place. Unlike Anelida and Arcite this is a complete poem and gives us as much of the story as Chaucer is willing to write.

Chaucer portrays women as fickle and with ever-changing allegiances. By contrast, Aristophanes in Lysistrata has women with all the power by their control over sex. He has them staying true to their plan even though it is difficult. Chaucer depicts his main character woman as weak and persuadable.

Conclusion

Troilus and Criseyde is the five-part poem where Chaucer details their romance. He portrays the woman as fickle and easily swayed while the man of the story stays true. It is quite an intense love affair between the two and just as quick it is over. Chaucer does not give us much information on how Troilus takes the rejection as he ends the poem first.

Have you read Troilus and Criseyde? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Troilus and Criseyde 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.

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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.

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The creation of the city of the birds; The Birds, Aristophanes

 Why you might read The Birds?

You might find you actually enjoy it. The Birds is a comedy and quite fantastical and quite enjoyable. It shows us that comedic plays did not have to be satirical to get written or performed in the ancient Greek world.

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.

The Story of The Birds

It starts with our main character Peisthtaerus and a friend, both from Athens. They are looking for a prince who has been turned into a bird. They are scaling a cliff.  In an attempt to make more noise they start baning on what turns out to be the prince's kitchen door. Eventually, his servant rouses him and he meets with the two Athenians. After a bit of chatter, Peisthtaerus asks him where they can go that is a nice peaceful city. The prince gives him several options but he turns them all down. He then proposes that the birds make a city in the air. He convinces the prince to call the other birds.

The other birds arrive and are angry that he has invited two humans. they make to attack the two but are eventually persuaded to listen and kill them later. Peisthtaerus spins a yarn about how the bird used to be above the gods. As well as how they were there before the world began and they should take back their rightful place. The birds lap it up and appoint him to make it so.

Once the walls are built Iris is caught traveling through the city and is chased away. Peisthtaerus also declares war on the gods. He sets himself up to give out wings to those who would join the city and recruits a young rebel to the cause. He is then troubled by a slew of grifters from other cities. He chases them away with the very wings he has to give out, seeming to want this to be a more peaceful city.

Prometheus shows up and says the gods will come to ask for peace. He says that Peisthtaerus should ask for the scepter and Sovereignty as his wife.

The gods send Heracles and Poseidon to sue for peace after they have not received sacrifices for a while.  They eventually concede to Peisthtaerus' requirements. They then take him to Olympus to collect his wife. The play ends with them returning to the bird city and getting married.

Reflection on The Birds

The Birds overall is an absurd premise, how you build walls in the sky I do not know. How they keep people out in three dimensions I know even less. But this seems to be part of Aristophanes' design in the play. It is a comedy meant to entertain and that it still does. That the gods could be overthrown so easily is an interesting conceit as well. 

The parade of the birds and the fact that they are all named explicitly at the start is interesting. To bother with this Aristophanes must have been persuaded that his audience knew all these types of birds. Their costumes must have been something to see as well!

That Heracles is part of the diplomatic party is a surprise. He shows that he doesn't really have the temperament for it in his comments on them while looking for Peisthtaerus. He is not known as a thinker or a talker but as a doer. That being said he ends up being the voice of reason to just get the peace treaty done. Eventually, he convinces Posideon to also agree.

What others have to say about The Birds

"First performed in 414 BC at the City Dionysia (where it won the second prize), The Birds is the longest of Aristophanes’ surviving comedies, and perhaps the most acclaimed one." From Greek Mythology

"Unlike the author’s other early plays, it includes no direct mention of the Peloponnesian War, and there are relatively few references to Athenian politics" From Classical Literature

Comparisons with other texts

Unlike Lysistrata or The Achanians, there is no mention of the Peloponnesian war. Even though The Birds was written and performed during the war. In fact, it is a straight-up comedy with no political references. Though there are references to particular people in Athens.

Like Lysistrata or The Achanians, it is a light-hearted work without death and despair. By contrast, we see both of these in the tragedies of Euripides like The Children of Heracles. It also has a looser grasp on reality and is more fantastical than any of these other works.

Conclusion

The Birds is a comedic play that is quite an enjoyable read. It covers the creation of a bird city in the sky and is quite fantastical with talking birds. It is the first comedy we have seen without political aspects woven into it. It was written and performed while the Peloponnesian war was going on.

Have you read The Birds? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Birds 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 Birds.

Withholding sex to end the Peloponnesian war; Lysistrata, Aristophanes

 Why you might read Lysistrata?

Lysistrata is a satirical look at the end of the Peloponnesian war. It uses a slightly absurd premise to show the absurdity of the war. As such it is early anti-war propaganda and gives us insight into the war-weariness of the Athenians.

In my Self Education project, it is a great contrast to the history of the Peloponnesian war. It gives a more human view of the war.

Story of Lysistrata

Lysistrata is a play in two acts with one scene in the first and two in the second act. Lysistrata gets together women of Athens, Sparta, and some of the other states involved in the war. With them, she hatches a plan to end the war. She gets them to all swear to withhold sex from their husbands until the war is ended. They then lock themselves in Athena's temple and wait. Some old men immediately try and smoke them out but the women of the city come to their aid and dump water on the men.

Five days later they are still there and the men are getting desperate. One of the women's husbands comes to the temple and tries to get her to sleep with him. She leads him on and then runs back into the temple. The men eventually settle the peace and wives and husbands join in joyous singing then head home.

Reflections on Lysistrata

It is interesting how much power the women have in this play. There are often male characters that try and tell them they have nothing to do with the war. They tell them it is their business and proceed to bring the peace. Aristophanes writes them as powerful in an age where their power was around the homestead. The men he writes are uncomfortable with the change but the women succeed anyway.

Aristophanes writes the female characters as just as interested and needing sex as their male counterparts. This reminds us that the ancient Greeks saw women as the more sexually driven gender. This is contrary to modern societal thought.

What others have to say about Lysistrata

"The name Lysistrata can be translated as “releaser of war” or “army disbander”" From Classical literature

"Further, by occupying the Acropolis, home of the Athenian treasury, the women controlled access to the money necessary to finance the war." From World History Encyclopedia

Comparisons with other texts

Like The Acharnians this is an anti-war piece. They both poke fun at the war and in the war-weariness of the people of Athens. In The Acharnians this is done through an old man suing for his own peace. In Lysistrata, it is the women who take charge of bringing the war to an end.

Unlike The History of the Peloponnesian War, this play does suggest an end to the war. Where Thucydides' work cuts off abruptly in the later war and does not show us the resolution. That being said Lysistrata is clearly satire and while the war truly ended there is no way this was the reason.

Conclusion

Lysistrata is a slightly crude romp through war-weariness. It gives the women the power to end the war through unconventional means. Again it is satire and more a commentary on how over the war the average Athenian was with the war by the time it ended. 

Have you read Lysistrata? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read Lysistrata 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.

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A dream sequence with talking birds; Parlement of Foules, Geoffroy Chaucer

 Why you might read Parlement of Foules?

Parlement of Foules is another of Chaucer's dream sequence poems. It covers the idea that when there are competing men for a woman's courtship it is her that must decide. It gives insight into how those around those courtships saw them.

In my Self Education project, it stands to give a better understanding of Chaucer's times. As well as insight into country courtship at the time.

Story of Parlement of Foules

Parlement of Foules starts with the narrator reading Cicero. This is mostly around Scipio Africanis. He then runs out of light and goes to sleep. Once asleep Africanis guides him to the temple of Venus. Once there he heads outside and finds nature in a clearing. Around her are collected all the birds. It is St. Valentine's day so they are waiting for her to give them a mate. There are three male eagles who argue over who loves this one female the most. The other lesser birds get sick of this and complain. Eventually, Nature chimes in and declares that whoever the female decides will be her mate will be. The males are unhappy but it does end the argument. Then all the other birds pair off and there is an ode to spring. 

Relfections on Parlement of Foules

Dream sequences tend to be a lot harder to follow and this work is no exception. The topic at times moves quickly between ideas. As we get to the parliament itself things slow down and it is easier to follow.

It is interesting that Nature's ruling is for the free will of the female. It is an interesting twist to the idea that nature decides the pairing that we are introduced to. It took me a little by surprise as I had expected Nature to make the decision.

What others have to say about Parlement of Foules

"Chaucer uses this device to gently satirize the tradition of courtly love. He handles the debate with humour and deftly characterizes the various birds." From Britannica

Comparisons with other texts

Like the House of Fame and The Book of Duchess Parlement of Foules is a dream sequence. And like these other two, it makes it a little harder to follow. Like The Book of Duchess, it is about love. But where the Book of Duchess is about the loss of love Parlement of Foules is about the start of love.

It is unlike Anelida and Arcite which is a direct story about Arcites betrayal of Anelida. Though again both center on the theme of love they do so in very different ways.

Conclusion

The Parlement of Foules is another dream sequence from Geoffroy Chaucer. It covers the dreamer traveling to the temple of Venus and then outside. Once out there the dreamer finds Nature holding parliament of St Valentine's day and pairing up all the birds. It looks at the themes of love and parodies the usual country courtships.

Have you read Parlement of Foules? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Parlement of Foules 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 Parlement of Foules.

The ridiculousness of the new Socratic ideas; The Clouds, Aristophanes

 Why you might read The Clouds?

The Clouds is a fun look at the idea of the Old and the New way. The uncertainty that it brings and focuses on the worries of the traditionalist. It takes a look at how Socrates' school was seen at least by some as a threat to their way of life.

In my Self Education project, it is a nice change from the super-serious greek plays we have encountered so far. It also gives insight into how dissent was portrayed in the ancient Greek world.

The story of The Clouds

The Clouds is a play in two acts. The first act is in three scenes while the second is a single scene. It is broadly about the folly of the, at the time new, Socratic thought.

The first act starts with Strepsiades failing to sleep because of the debts his son is racking up. These are coming due for interest that very day. Strepsiades wakes his son and tries to convince him to go to the school of Philosophy next door. His son won't and goes to race his horses instead. Strepsiades decides to go to the school himself. Here he meets the new gods the clouds. After a fairly brief time there leaves as Socrates cannot get him to remember anything. He returns having convinced his son to go to the school. He then asks Socrates to teach his son the arguments right and wrong. If he can only remember one let it be wrong so he can win the argument with those who hold his debt and get out of paying.

The second act starts with Strepsiades' son returning from school. Between him and his father, they argue their way out of the debts that were due. Strepsiades is then hit by his son who uses the wrong argumentation to justify his actions. He then goes on to justify that he should also hit his mother. Strepsiades takes a servant with tools and a torch and gets him to pull up the roof which he then sets on fire. He does this as vengeance for the corruption of his son.

Reflections on The Clouds

This is another satire. This time as a political narrative of the times in Athens. The Socratic way of thinking was new and untested. Many, including Aristophanes, wondered if it would corrupt the youth and threaten their way of life.

The fourth wall breaks with Socrates appealing to the audience is quite interesting. Aristophanes is the earliest in my list that we have seen characters break with the play and acknowledge the audience. It is a device we still see today in the tradition of pantomime. It is also occasionally seen in TV shows.

It is also of interest that Strepsiades is keen for his son to learn the way of wrong when it suits him. Showing that breaking a moral compass may have immediate returns but it always comes back to bite us. His son is neither moral nor immoral as a character before his education. It is his father's choice of education that sets him on this immoral path.

What others have to say about The Clouds

"The 'new education' that the sophists at the 'Thinkery' pioneer represents the first stirrings of scientific theories that were circulating in Athens at the time of the play's production in the fifth century BCE." From Spark Notes

"Aristophanes' comedies were seen as a masterful blend of wit and invention. Often criticized for their crude humor and suggestive tone, his plays were popular among the Athenian audiences. However, to his many critics, he brought Greek tragedy down from the high levels of such tragedians as Aeschylus with his use of parody, satire, and vulgarity. " From World History Encyclopedia

Comparisons with other texts

Like The Acharnians, The Clouds is mainly Satire. Here though the focus is on the fight between the old and the new. By contrast, The Acharnians is dissent against the war with Sparta.

By contrast one of Euripides' plays, for example, Orestes is a lot more serious and tragic. While both end with death the tone of The Clouds is a lot more jovial. It feels as if Aristophanes is having a lot more fun with his audience by not being so lofty with his storytelling.

Conclusion

The Clouds is a satirical play that explores the idea of the new way against the old way. It centers around a father and son. The son eventually goes to the Socratic thinkery. He comes out corrupted and argumentative. This is what the father wanted to escape his creditors. It is not long however until the son turns this against his father. 

Have you read The Clouds? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Clouds 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 Clouds. 

Poking fun at the Peloponnesian war in Athens; The Acharnians, Aristophanes

Why you might read The Achanians?

The Achanians is the first political Satire on the list. As such it is both an interesting read and a step in the development of the play. As well as being the start of satire as a way to criticize the ruling powers.

For my Self Education project, it is a great stepping stone toward modern plays and modern satire.

Story of The Achanians

The Achanians is a two Act play with two distinct scenes. The first is in the Pynx where the Assembly meets in Athens. The second is in front of our main character Dikaiopolis' house. 

The first act starts with Dikaiopolis sitting in the Pynx waiting for everyone to show up. He waits even though he arrived on time. He laments how no-one seems to take it seriously.  The others, including the council, arrive and the session is started. There are delegates from Persia who Dikaiopolis speaks against. Then delegates from Thrace are seen and again Dikaiopolis speaks against them.

The scene shifts to in front of Dikaiopolis' house. Here Dikaiopolis gets a friend to go to Sparta and sue for a personal peace. The friend returns with three different wineskins representing three different durations of peace. He chooses the longest one. He is then accosted by the chorus as a traitor but talks his way out of being stoned to death.

The second act starts with  Dikaiopolis setting up a market outside his house. In his market, there is only one exemption that the hero Lamachus cannot buy. He allows Boethians and Megarians to trade though they are banned in the rest of Athens. He sells first to a Magarian who sells him, two girls. He then sells an Informer to a Boethian. Both times Informers try and disrupt the sale and confiscate the goods. Both times Dikaiopolis sends them on their way. The play ends with Lamachus being called to war and Dikaiopolis being called to a feast. Lamachus returns injured and dismayed. While Dikaiopolis returns full of wine having triumphed in the drinking contest.

Reflections on The Achanians

It is interesting to read the first real piece of satire and dissonance. Here we have one old man going against the mainstay of Athens during the Peloponnesian war. He even sues for his own peace and argues for the Spartan side of the war as valid. He just wants to live the simple life and the war to go away.  The whole thing seems to be, especially the end part, a stick in the eye for anyone thinking this time was about glory in Athens.

Our main character is a nobody, he is just a farmer stuck in Athens. All of Attica was in Athens as the Spartans were raiding around the countryside for years on end. Aristophanes puts this nobody up against the assembly. And then against other Athenian citizens who were for the war. Yet he and his personal peace with Sparta come through intact. Everything comes out rosey for our nobody.

From a little digging, it looks like this was actually written at the time of the war. It was also performed at the time. As such it really is a political Satire of the war.

What others have to say about The Achanians

"Produced at the Lenaea in 425 BC, The Acharnians is the third play composed by Aristophanes, his earliest extant work, and the earliest Ancient Greek comedy that has survived entirely intact to this day." From Greek Mythology

"The play is notable for its absurd humour and its imaginative appeal for an end to the Peloponnesian War against the Spartans, which was already into its sixth year when the play was produced." From Ancient Literature

Comparisons with other texts

Unlike the History of the Peloponnesian War, this text is a commentary aimed at putting an end to the war. The history of the Peloponnesian war covers the entire war. By contrast, this text captures a snapshot after 6 years. They clearly cover the same event but in various styles. Thucydides is trying to report true history. Aristophanes on the other hand is conveying dissent to the war as it is going on. 

We can also look at The Suppliant Women by Euripides. This was a far more serious play and a tragedy. By comparison, The Acharnians is a comedy in both the traditional and modern sense. Its absurdist humor shines through every stage of the play. And as such, it was an interesting read.

Conclusion

The Acharnians is a play in two acts. It is a piece of satire and political dissent. As such it is a much easier read than some of the plays covered so far. It pokes fun at the first six years of the Peloponnesian war. It even takes shots at the leaders and generals of the war. 

Have you read The Acharnians? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Acharnians 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 Acharnians.