Greek Comedy
Like tragedy, comedy arose from a ritual in honor of Dionysus, but in this case the plays were full of frank obscenity, abuse, and insult. At Athens the comedies became an official part of the festival celebration in 486 BC, and prizes were offered for the best productions.As with the tragedians, few works still remain of the great comedic writers. Of the works of earlier writers, only some plays by Aristophanes exist. These are a treasure trove of comic presentation. He poked fun at everyone and every institution.For boldness of fantasy, for merciless insult, for unqualified indecency, and for outrageous and free political criticism, there is nothing to compare to the comedies of Aristophanes.In `The Birds' he held up Athenian democracy to ridicule. In `The Clouds' he attacked the philosopher Socrates. In `Lysistrata' he denounced war. Only 11 of his plays have survived.During the 4th century BC, there developed what was called the New Comedy. Menander is considered the best of its writers. Nothing remains from his competitors, however, so it is difficult to make comparisons.The plays of Menander, of which only the `Dyscolus' (Misanthrope) now exists, did not deal with the great public themes about which Aristophanes wrote. He concentrated instead on fictitious characters from everyday life-- stern fathers, young lovers, intriguing slaves, and others.In spite of his narrower focus, the plays of Menander influenced later generations. They were freely adapted by the Roman poets Plautus and Terence in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC . The comedies of the French playwright Moli�re are reminiscent of those by Menander.
- Comedy
- light and humorous drama with a happy ending
- Productions
- the act or process or producing bringing forth or exhibiting to view
- Competitors
- one who seeks what another seeks or clams what another claims