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Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae

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Please help understanding the play by Aristophanes, The Ecclesiazusae, Discuss how the problems with the following suggestions are shown by Aristophanes' play: Socrates' proposals for the military and political equality of women and men, and Socrates' proposals for the sharing of women and children in common. In addition, In what sense is Aristophanes showing why Socrates' suggestion would be met by ridicule and laughter? Does Aristophanes' critique effectively refute Socrates' argument? Please Help! thanks for your time

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Solution Summary

The solution assists with helping to understand the play Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae.

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In order to answer this question appropriately, it was necessary to bring in briefly a discussion of additional plays. It is my understanding the student is seeking Aristophanes's view on women in society and in relation to power--as well as a comparison of Aristophanes and Socrates. My response is meant to be introductory and to offer avenues of further research to the student.

In his play, the Clouds, Aristophanes ridicules Socrates for his naturalist philosophies, for having his head in the clouds, and for encouraging the youth of Athens to repudiate authority and to chase answers to nonsensical questions. He ridiculed Socrates for ignoring an Athenian sense of propriety. He saw Socrates as partly responsible for the social instability that was brewing in Athens by his poisoning of the youths's minds. He portrayed this by having Socrates babble nonsense. ...

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