The Knights Summary

The Knights, a comedic play by Aristophanes, was performed in 424 BCE. Written in the present tense, the play satirizes political corruption in Athens, particularly targeting the influential demagogue Cleon. The title refers to the chorus of knights, who support a sausage seller in his attempt to overthrow Cleon, highlighting the play's central conflict. Through its sharp humor and bold political commentary, The Knights exemplifies Aristophanes' skill in blending satire with theatrical entertainment.

Summary

The Sausage Seller

The play The Knights begins with two slaves, Demosthenes and Nicias, talking about their cruel master Cleon, who is in charge of their household. They are scared because they believe Cleon will eventually have them killed. Since they see no other way out, they start discussing how to die honorably. Nicias suggests drinking bull’s blood, but Demosthenes thinks wine would be a better choice. He argues that wine is a drink of intelligent people and might help them come up with a clever plan. Nicias manages to steal some wine, and they drink it to celebrate not getting caught. The wine helps them think, and they come up with the idea of stealing an oracle that Cleon keeps hidden. In ancient Greece, oracles were seen as serious predictions about the future.

The two slaves successfully steal the oracle and read it. It predicts that Cleon will lose his power and be replaced by a sausage seller. Just as they are discussing this surprising news, a sausage seller happens to pass by. They call him over and tell him that he is destined to become a great man, even greater than Cleon. The sausage seller finds this hard to believe because he is uneducated and comes from a poor background. Demosthenes tells him that this is actually a good thing because politicians are usually not well-mannered or educated.

Suddenly, Cleon comes out of his room, looking angry. The sausage seller is frightened and tries to run away, but before he can escape, a group of knights enters the scene. The knights immediately pick a fight with Cleon.

The sausage seller finds his courage and decides to stand up to Cleon. They begin a shouting contest to see who can yell the loudest. After they exchange a long series of insults, the knights jump on Cleon and beat him up. Cleon, humiliated, announces that he will go to the senate to complain. The sausage seller quickly follows him.

The Great Aristophanes

The knights begin singing a long song called the parabasis, in which they praise the playwright Aristophanes and mock his rivals. They boast about how great their horses are and make humorous claims about their horses rowing boats like knights.

The Senate

When the sausage seller returns from the senate, the knights are eager to know what happened. The sausage seller proudly announces that he has won over the senate. He explains how he tricked Cleon: while Cleon was making a speech accusing him of a conspiracy, he interrupted by shouting that anchovies were now selling for a cheap price. Since anchovies had been expensive due to the ongoing war with Sparta, the senators became excited about the news and started supporting him instead of Cleon. The sausage seller then secretly bought all the seasoning used for making anchovies and gave it to the vendors, causing anchovy prices to drop further. This clever trick made him popular with the people.

Demus

Cleon and the sausage seller both go to their master, Demus, to prove their loyalty to him. They try to outdo each other by giving him gifts. The sausage seller gives Demus a cushion to sit on and also offers him shoes, a coat, and ointment. He then blames Cleon for rejecting peace deals and accuses him of keeping the war going for his own benefit. Demus decides to settle the argument by listening to both men at the Pnyx, a hill in Athens where political debates take place.

Both Cleon and the sausage seller arrive at the Pnyx, each carrying a pile of oracles. Cleon's oracles are real, but the sausage seller, who cannot read, makes up his own and invents the name of a fake prophet. Each time Cleon reads one of his oracles, the sausage seller comes up with a better one.

Demus declares that he will choose the one who gives him the most. Cleon and the sausage seller leave and return with food. Again, the sausage seller outdoes Cleon at every turn. When Cleon offers Demus a slice of cake, the sausage seller gives him the whole cake. The sausage seller also points out how much cake Cleon has kept for himself compared to how much he has given away. He accuses Cleon of being greedy and always keeping the biggest share for himself.

In a desperate move to hold onto his power, Cleon takes out the oracle that predicts his own defeat. He questions the sausage seller and realizes that the man matches every detail of the prophecy. Finally, Cleon admits defeat, and the sausage seller becomes the new steward of Demus’s household.

Demus and the sausage seller return to the stage. Demus, who had been made a fool by Cleon, is now restored to his true noble self. He looks more dignified than before. The sausage seller then announces the perfect punishment for Cleon: from now on, Cleon will be selling sausages at the city gate.

Themes Analysis

1. Political Satire and Demagoguery

At its core, The Knights is a sharp attack on Cleon, a real-life politician in Athens who rose to power after the death of Pericles. Cleon, known for his populist rhetoric and aggressive policies, is depicted as a tyrannical master controlling the household of Demus (who represents the Athenian people). The play mocks how demagogues gain influence by exploiting the public’s ignorance, greed, and short attention span.

The introduction of the sausage seller as Cleon’s rival underscores the absurdity of political leadership in Athens. Aristophanes humorously suggests that a man with no education or manners—a mere sausage seller—could be just as effective (if not better) than an experienced politician. This satirical element reflects Aristophanes' cynicism about the democratic system, where power often goes to the most manipulative rather than the most competent.

2. The Role of the Knights

The chorus of knights represents the old Athenian aristocracy, who despise Cleon’s rule and long for a return to traditional values. Their support of the sausage seller shows how the elite preferred anyone over Cleon, even a man of low status. The parabasis (a section where the chorus directly addresses the audience) allows Aristophanes to praise himself and mock his rivals, adding another layer of humor and self-referential commentary.

3. The Manipulation of the Public

One of the play’s most comical yet insightful moments is when the sausage seller wins over the senate by distracting them with news about cheap anchovies. This highlights how easily politicians sway public opinion with trivial matters. Cleon’s downfall is not caused by noble ideals or rational debate but by a clever market trick—showing that Athenian democracy was often driven by immediate gratification rather than wise decision-making.

4. The Transformation of Demus

Demus symbolizes the Athenian people, who are initially gullible and easily manipulated by Cleon’s bribes and flattery. However, under the rule of the sausage seller, he is "restored" to his former glory, suggesting that the people can be redeemed if freed from corrupt leadership. This optimistic ending implies that Athens still has the potential for good governance, despite its flaws.

Character Analysis

1. Cleon – The Corrupt Politician

Cleon, the antagonist of the play, represents the corrupt Athenian politician and demagogue. He is portrayed as manipulative, cruel, and self-serving, using deception and flattery to maintain power over Demus (the personified Athenian people). Aristophanes satirizes him as a tyrant who thrives on war and public fear, rejecting peace to sustain his influence. His downfall comes not because of his lack of cunning but because the sausage seller outdoes him in every trick. His final humiliation—being reduced to a mere sausage vendor—symbolizes his loss of power and status, making him a figure of ridicule rather than authority.

2. The Sausage Seller – The Unexpected Hero

The sausage seller, an uneducated and lowly figure, ironically becomes the play’s hero. Aristophanes uses him to mock the idea that political success is not based on virtue or intellect but rather on cunning, shamelessness, and the ability to manipulate the public. He outmaneuvers Cleon by using the same dishonest tactics more effectively, exposing Cleon’s greed and deception. His triumph is not necessarily a moral victory but a satirical one—suggesting that in Athenian politics, one only needs to be a more skilled deceiver to rise to power. However, by the end of the play, he restores order to Demus’s household, implying that even a corrupt leader can sometimes bring positive change.

3. Demosthenes and Nicias – The Fearful Slaves

The two slaves, named after famous Athenian generals, symbolize the common people oppressed under Cleon’s rule. Their initial fear and desire to escape highlight the tyrannical nature of their master. However, once they drink wine, they gain the confidence to challenge Cleon, demonstrating the theme of courage overcoming oppression. Their role is also comedic, as they serve as clever commentators on the absurdity of politics. They help introduce the prophecy about the sausage seller, setting the main plot into motion.

4. Demus – The Personification of the Athenian People

Demus, whose name means “the people” in Greek, represents the Athenian democracy. Initially, he is shown as a gullible and easily manipulated figure, controlled by Cleon through flattery and deception. His tendency to be swayed by gifts and food satirizes how politicians gain public favor through bribery rather than genuine leadership. However, once Cleon is defeated, Demus transforms into a noble and dignified figure, symbolizing the restoration of true democratic values. Aristophanes suggests that the people, though often deceived, have the potential to regain wisdom and self-respect when freed from corrupt leadership.

5. The Knights – The Chorus and Moral Voice

The knights serve as a chorus, reinforcing the play’s themes through their songs and commentary. They are staunch opponents of Cleon, aligning themselves with Aristophanes’ perspective. Their role is both comedic and political, as they not only ridicule Cleon but also engage in self-praise, boasting about their horses and making absurd claims. Their parabasis (direct address to the audience) serves as Aristophanes’ platform to criticize his political rivals and glorify his own work.

So, The Knights is a brilliant example of Aristophanes’ ability to use comedy for political criticism. By portraying Cleon as a self-serving opportunist, Aristophanes warns against the dangers of demagoguery in democracy. The play also questions the nature of leadership, suggesting that Athens’ political system rewards cunning rather than virtue. Ultimately, The Knights remains relevant today as a timeless critique of populist politics, reminding us of the need for informed and critical citizenship.