Wasps - Parados

1. Wasps - Parados THE ENTRY OF THE CHORUS Group of old men (parody of military drill) with chorus of boys (dancers) (young men are away at the war) They look back & forward to their “marathon man” days as victorious young warriors of Persian Wars & to the present ‘stinging’ Cleon’s enemies Laches trial today – the admiral in Sicilian battle charged by Cleon with extortion (and not sharing profits with Cleon) Scene with mime and visual humour tripping up, looking into dark corners, slipping in the mud They’re poor – 3 obols is only a subsistence wage (up from 2, & more than a soldier’s pay) – their dress is ragged brown cloaks and wasp colours - Can’t afford oil for their lamps (war shortage), or figs for the boys (sons?) They sing old war songs to call Philocleon to join them (not realising he is captive) They grumble with the boys chorus who threaten to leave them in the dark to stumble home shows the generation divide yet they later compliment Bdelycleon for his wisdom, love of father, and his desire wish to provide father with a classier life still grumble at todays “curly headed” “perfumed” “mamby pamby youngsters” with “pederastic passions” There is a recognition that perhaps the young can provide some solutions to cure the sick Athens

2. Wasps – Episode following the Parados A PARODY OF A TRAGIC PLAY OF EURIPIDES (in 422BC a young modern playwright) Philocleon wails like a trapped heroine at his plight (held captive and unable to attend the court) He now shows how far his nature has strayed from the expected slapstick clown of fertility (Dionysiac) The city atmosphere of hatred, suspicion and greed in wartime under Cleon has corrupted his comic persona Despite the tragic heroine roll he can’t repress his loveable roguishness and vitality [poneria] He prays to Zeus to be ‘served in vinegar and brine’ He demands to be built into the courthouse wall so as to never miss trials again wants to become a puff of smoke (hot air) to escape his prison – a joke at his own expense [discontinuity of Characterisation] Chorus leader suggested he tunnel through the wall “like wily Odysseus” [parody of epic] When suggested he should gnaw through the net he says ”may Artemis forgive me” [Pun] as in Cretan net is the same word. The Chorus leader complains that imprisoning Philocleon is an attack on democracy Anti democratic (to prevent a juror from his duty) Accused of Monarchist politics The slaves (Zanthius & Sosius) wake up and see he is trying to escape – slap stick whacking etc the wasps begin a fight with stings etc to free him (attacking backwards – with military precision) slaves called in by Bdelycleon have Persian sounding names, Philocleon calls on Cecrops – Athen’s founder Wasps chorus defeated (due to being trained in songs by Phrynichis, rather than more modern songs) The defeated Chorus claims all opponents are totalitarian tyrants, anti-democrats and monarchists Philocleon rejects luxury at the market as it exposed one to criticism of being ‘modern’ and antidemocratic even prostitutes playing ‘King of the castle’ Preparing for the AGON now Bdelycleon says if father will keep quiet for a bit he’ll show how he is being duped by politicians who keep the cities wealth for themselves