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THE WASPS
INTRODUCTION"This
Comedy, which was produced by its Author the year after the
performance of 'The Clouds,' may be taken as in some sort a companion
picture to that piece. Here the satire is directed against the
passion of the Athenians for the excitement of the law-courts, as in
the former its object was the new philosophy. And as the younger
generation—the modern school of thought—were there the subjects
of the caricature, so here the older citizens, who took their seats
in court as jurymen day by day, to the neglect of their private
affairs and the encouragement of a litigious disposition, appear in
their turn in the mirror which the satirist holds up."There
are only two characters of any importance to the action—Philocleon
('friend of Cleon') and his son Bdelycleon ('enemy of Cleon'). The
plot is soon told. Philocleon is a bigoted devotee of the malady of
litigiousness so typical of his countrymen and an enthusiastic
attendant at the Courts in his capacity of 'dicast' or juryman.
Bdelycleon endeavours to persuade his father by every means in his
power to change this unsatisfactory manner of life for something
nobler and more profitable; but all in vain. As a last resource he
keeps his father a prisoner indoors, so that he cannot attend the
tribunals.The
old man tries to escape, and these attempts are conceived in the
wildest vein of extravaganza. He endeavours to get out by the
chimney, pretending he is "only the smoke"; and all hands
rush to clap a cover on the chimney-top, and a big stone on that. He
slips through a hole in the tiles, and sits on the roof, pretending
to be "only a sparrow"; and they have to set a net to catch
him. Then the Chorus of Wasps, representing Philocleon''s fellow
'dicasts,' appear on the scene to rescue him. A battle royal takes
place on the stage; the Wasps, with their formidable stings, trying
to storm the house, while the son and his retainers defend their
position with desperate courage. Finally the assailants are repulsed,
and father and son agree upon a compromise. Bdelycleon promises, on
condition that his father gives up attending the public trails, to
set up a mock tribunal for him in his own house.Presently
the theft of a Sicilian cheese by the house-dog Labes gives the old
fellow an opportunity of exercising his judicial functions. Labes is
duly arraigned and witnesses examines. But alas! Philocleon
inadvertently casts his vote for the defendant's
acquittal, the
first time in his life "such a thing has ever occurred,"
and the old man nearly dies of vexation.At
this point follows the 'Parabasis,' or Author's personal address to
the audience, after which the concluding portion of the play has
little connection with the main theme. This is a fault, according to
modern ideas, common to many of these Comedies, but it is especially
marked in this particular instance. The final part might almost be a
separate play, under the title perhaps of 'The dicast turned
gentleman,' and relates various ridiculous mistakes and laughable
blunders committed by Philocleon, who, having given up his attendance
on the law-courts, has set up for playing a part in polite society.The
drama, as was very often the case, takes its title from the Chorus—a
band of old men dressed up as wasps, who acrimonious, stinging,
exasperated temper is meant to typify the character fostered among
Athenian citizens by excessive addiction to forensic business.
