Aristophanes: Cavalry
Aristophanes: Cavalry by Rob Tordoff, published by Bloomsbury Academic on January 25, 2024, offers a student introduction to one of Aristophanes’ most significant political satires. This edition, comprising 192 pages, presents an exploration of the themes, context, and reception of the ancient comedy originally performed in 424 BCE. The work provides insights into demagoguery and political rhetoric in classical Athens, subjects that remain relevant to contemporary audiences.
Readers will find a detailed examination of the play’s critique of Athenian democracy and its prominent figure, Cleon, who gained notoriety following his victory over Sparta. Tordoff’s guide delves into Aristophanes’ portrayal of the masses’ gullibility and self-interest, suggesting that the only escape from political crisis lies in finding a leader even more popular than Cleon. The narrative unfolds with a unique character, a sausage-seller, who embodies both depravity and a genuine love for traditional Athenian values, enriching the comedic and critical elements of the play.
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Offering for the first time a student introduction to Aristophanes’ most explosive political satire, this volume is an essential guide to the context, themes and later reception of Cavalry. The ancient comedy is a fascinating insight into demagoguery and political rhetoric in classical Athens. These are subjects that resonate with a modern audience more now than ever before.
Originally performed in 424 BCE, Cavalry was the first play Aristophanes directed himself and it was awarded first prize. It targets the Athenian demagogue, Cleon, who had risen to prominence since the death of Pericles and to pre-eminence after an audacious victory over Sparta in 425 BCE. In Cavalry, Aristophanes attacks Cleon’s popularity with the masses, but also criticises the democracy itself as guilty of gullibility, self-interest and political shortsightedness. As the play shows, the only hope of escape from the crisis is for Athens to find a leader even more popular Cleon. And who better to be more foul-mouthed, depraved and shameless than a sausage-seller, if only because he turns out in the end to have a good heart and a true love of traditional Athenian values?
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