Against Demagogues

What Aristophanes Can Teach Us about the Perils of Populism and the Fate of Democracy, New Translations of the Acharnians and the Knights

Prof. Robert C. Bartlett

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780520975361
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politica e relazioni internazionali
• Subtopic: Storia e teoria politica

Timeless comedies on resisting tyranny from one of history's greatest comic playwrights.

Against Demagogues presents Robert C. Bartlett's new translations of Aristophanes' most overtly political works, the Acharnians and the Knights. In these fantastically inventive, raucous, and raunchy comedies, the powerful politician Cleon proves to be democracy's greatest opponent. With unrivalled power, both plays make clear the dangers to which democracies are prone, especially the threats posed by external warfare, internal division, and class polarization.

Combating the seductive allure of demagogues and the damage they cause, Against Demagogues disentangles Aristophanes' serious teachings from his many jokes and pratfalls, substantiating for modern readers his famous claim to "teach justice" while "making a comedy" of the city. The book features an interpretive essay for each play, expertly guiding readers through the most important plot points, explaining the significance of various characters, and shedding light on the meaning of the plays' often madcap episodes. Along with a contextualizing introduction, Bartlett offers extensive notes explaining the many political, literary, and religious references and allusions. Aristophanes' comedic skewering of the demagogue and his ruthless ambition—and of a community so ill-informed about the doings of its own government, so ready to believe in empty promises and idle flattery—cannot but resonate strongly with readers today around the world.

The Knights

[Outside the house of Demos on the Pnyx, in Athens]

DEMOSTHENES¹

[Running out of the house]

Yyy-ououououououououch! What evils! Yyy-ououououch!

If only the gods would evilly destroy that evil, newly purchased Paphlagon,²

Him and his schemes!

For from the time he entered the household

He’s been inflicting blows on the servants nonstop!

5

NICIAS³

Very evilly indeed, that guy, first among Paphlagonians,

Him and his slanders!

DEMOSTHENES

[To Nicias] Wretched fellow, how’re you doing?

NICIAS

Badly, just like you!

DEMOSTHENES

Well, come over here then, so

We may wail a song of Olympus⁴ in concert.

DEMOSTHENES AND NICIAS

10

“Mumu mumu mumu mumu mumu mumu!”

DEMOSTHENES

Why are we uttering this plaintive lament? Shouldn’t we seek out some

Salvation for the two of us, rather than keep on crying?

NICIAS

So what might it be?

DEMOSTHENES

You say.

NICIAS

Now you tell me,

So I don’t have to fight.

DEMOSTHENES

By Apollo, not I!

15

But be bold and say it, then I’ll tell you.

NICIAS

“Would that you might say for me, what it is I ought to say.”⁵

But there’s no boldness in me. However might

I say it, then, in a subtle-Euripidean way?

DEMOSTHENES

Don’t ...