Analysis Of Aristophanes Clouds

Socrates has been seen as a hero known for seeking the truth who sacrificed his life for philosophy. Socrates, a philosopher, was executed by his community for standing alone against his community and daring to question the sacred beliefs that existed. Although Socrates was seen as a hero for some, there were many who saw Socrates as a dangerous figures. Aristophanes’ Clouds, portrays Socrates as a threat to the political community for undermining the laws that govern the community. Aristophanes’ Clouds presents a conservative yet comedic mocking of what goes against the community in attempt to protect it. According to Aristophanes, one of the ways that political communities insures their survival is by restraining from thought, because philosophy …show more content…
In Euthyphro, Socrates is being prosecuted for corrupting the youth and for impiety, while Euthyphro is being charged for murder. In conversations between the two, Socrates asks Euthyphro to teach him “what is piety” (Euthyphro, pg.47). Socrates engages Euthyphro in a discussion that will help him find the meaning of piety and by doing so, Socrates can use this to defend himself against the charges he faces. In the Platonic dialogues, Plato’s defense of Socrates illustrates that Socrates is a political philosopher in question for the truth. It is important to understand that Plato and Aristophanes both had different representations of Socrates but because of the portrayal of Aristophanes’ Clouds, his play had a profound impact on Athenian society. Thus, it is in Plato’s Apology, where Socrates gives his defense to the Athenians at his …show more content…
In Athens, the old-fashioned and traditional way of life is what one would consider the proper and just speech. Contrary, unjust speech is not accepted in the court of law because it does not appeal to the gods. Unjust speech is seen as boosting self-indulgence and is seen as a threat to the city (Clouds, pg.151). Throughout Aristophanes’ Clouds there is a battle between what is new and old, just and unjust. This is clear in Clouds, considering that Pheidippides would be considered “New”, overturns the old, which would be considered “Strepsiades”. Socrates is accused of using the “unjust” speech by teaching others to discover new deities and disregard Zeus. If the court of law defines the “unjust” speech as teaching others to explore and obtain knowledge, then yes Socrates does use the unjust speech. But if the unjust speech is defined solely as going against “old” traditions, Socrates does not use the “unjust” speech because he does not charge, nor gets any compensation for speaking or teaching. And in his teaching, he does not go against the old-fashioned way of life in Athens nor does he attempts to corrupt the city’s beliefs. Many of the men of Athens accuse Socrates of using the “unjust” speech in the sense that Socrates claims that Zeus does not exits and that he disregards the gods. In the city of Athens, doubting the deities and the poets who are considered