THE FROGS was probably produced
at the Lenaean festival in Athens in January, 405 B.C. where
it took first prize. It scored such a hit that it was staged
a second time, probably in March of the same year, at the Great
Dionysia. It is typical of the lyrical-burlesques of Aristophanes.
THE
god, Dionysus, as a theater goer, bemoans the lack of good contemporary
dramatists. This lack, he feels, reflects on his own honor. After
some consideration he resolves to go with his servant, Xanthias,
to the afterworld and bring back the Prince of dramatists, Euripides. With this plan in mind he procures
a lion skin and club and disguises himself to represent the recklessly
brave Heracles, thinking thus to fortify himself against the
dangers of the journey. He makes a final call on the immortal
Heracles to ask directions and then sets out.
Dionysus himself is ferried across to Hades by the boatman,
Charon, through a chorus of croaking frogs who seem to be pretty
well posted on the doings of mortals. Since Charon disdains to
ferry Xanthias across the lake the latter has to walk around
and meet his master at the entrance to Hades. No sooner are the
two inside Pluto's realm than the inhabitants, spying the club
and lion skin, decide their chance has come to get even with
Heracles for certain misdeeds of that reckless hero on his own
visit to the nether world. Dionysus in great alarm insists that
his servant change costumes with him, an incident which gives
rise to banter of the type indulged in by two modern stage comedians
in a musical show. The change is scarcely accomplished, however,
when the maid of the lovely Proserpine appears to bid the supposed
hero to a banquet. Dionysus insists on reassuming the lion skin
that he may accept the invitation, but no sooner has he done
so than two indignant eating-house keepers assail the supposed
Heracles for damages done on his previous visit. At this point,
Dionysus in terror reveals his actual indentity.
The news spreads that Dionysus is in Hades and almost at once
loud quarreling is heard. The disturbance turns out to be Aeschylus and Euripides disputing the place
of honor as King of Tragedy, a position which Aeschylus holds
and Euripides wants. It is finally agreed that since their plays
were written for performance at the Dionysian festivals, Dionysus
shall decide their dispute. A trial is held and in the end the
matter is settled by weighing the verses from each poet's writings
in the scales. Aeschylus as the writer of heavier verses is declared
the winner. But the trial has changed Dionysus' mind and he departs
for earth taking Aeschylus instead of Euripides, leaving Sophocles meanwhile to hold down the place
of honor.
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