Aristophanes Clouds Is A Social Commentary On The Nature...

Aristophanes’ Clouds is a social commentary on the nature of justice as it pertains to the philosophic life within the city- disguised as a crude theatrical comedy. The protagonist Strepsiades is overcome by debt due to his son Pheidippides’ obsession with horsemanship, and Strepsiades seeks the help of local philosopher Socrates in order to learn the art of deceptive speaking so that he may trick his creditors and not â€Å"give anyone back even an obol of those debts† (120). Although the play is filled with vulgar humor on the surface, Aristophanes’ uses the dialogue to examine the dangers of the philosophical life and its effect on the city. Through the story of Strepsiades, Aristophanes leads his audience to the conclusion that the philosophic life and those who partake in it are a danger to the city because of their blatant disregard for the gods and the traditional customs of Athens. At the opening of the play, Strepsiades begins with an invocation to â€Å"Zeus the King!† (2). Upon arrival to Socrates’ Thinkery, Strepsiades begs Socrates to teach him how to â€Å"win both just and unjust causes by speaking† in order to have his debts forgiven without having to pay them back (98), and swears â€Å"by the gods† that he will pay Socrates (246). However, Socrates informs Strepsiades that â€Å"Zeus does not even exist†, nor do any other gods (367). Before this, Strepsiades had acknowledged his fear of Zeus’ punishment and the thunderbolt that made him â€Å"fear and tremble†, but Strepsiades no