The Wasps Summary

Aristophanes’ The Wasps, a comedy first performed in 422 BCE, is a sharp and satirical play that unfolds in the present tense, immersing the audience in its lively critique of Athenian society. True to the tradition of ancient Athenian comedies, its title is inspired by the chorus, who don wasp-like costumes to symbolize the relentless and stinging nature of the city’s dicasts—its ever-zealous judges and jurors. Swarming the courts with an insatiable appetite for litigation, these figures embody the absurdity of a legal system that often does more harm than good, making The Wasps a witty and enduring commentary on the excesses of democracy.

Summary

Standing Guard

At the start of the play, two servants, Sosias and Xanthias, are standing guard outside a house. They are trying to stay awake, but they struggle to keep their eyes open. The reason they are guarding the house is because an old man named Philocleon often tries to escape. The servants challenge the audience to guess what kind of illness Philocleon has that makes it necessary to keep him locked inside. They reveal that he is not addicted to drinking or gambling. Instead, he is obsessed with the court. Philocleon is a dicast, which means he serves as a judge and juror, and he is addicted to his role. To stop him from escaping, the servants stretch a net over the house. Then, they fall asleep.

Bdelocleon, the master of the house, finds the servants sleeping and wakes them up. He tells them that Philocleon has managed to climb into the furnace and is trying to escape by pretending to be smoke. Once they stop Philocleon from escaping, Sosias suggests they take another nap. However, Bdelocleon warns them that Philocleon's supporters will come at midnight to free him. He also warns that the old men who support Philocleon will be as aggressive as wasps if they are disturbed. Sosias ignores this warning and decides that throwing a stone will be enough to keep them away. Then, both servants fall back asleep.

The Wasps

While the servants sleep, Philocleon's supporters arrive. They are a group of dicasts, all judges and jurors, dressed as wasps. They try to help Philocleon escape through a window, but Bdelocleon returns just in time to stop them. The chorus of wasps swarms around Bdelocleon and the two servants.

To settle the problem without violence, Bdelocleon challenges his father to a debate. Philocleon agrees and is released by the servants. Bdelocleon sits at a table and writes down every argument his father makes. Each time Philocleon argues that his work in court is good, Bdelocleon has a reply that proves him wrong. When Philocleon says that he helps people by judging cases, Bdelocleon reminds him of the people who suffer in court. When Philocleon argues that clever defendants make a mockery of wealth, Bdelocleon turns his words around and says that the court itself is a mockery of wealth. In the end, Philocleon makes one final argument: the three obols he earns for judging cases. Bdelocleon points out that this is a tiny portion of the public's wealth, and most of the money actually goes to the government. Philocleon is shocked to realize that he has lost the argument.

The Dog's Trial

Now that he has been convinced to give up the court, Philocleon does not know what to do with himself. Bdelocleon suggests setting up a court in their own home to judge small household matters. Philocleon likes this idea. Soon, a household dog is accused of stealing cheese, and Philocleon prepares to judge the case. Another household dog serves as a witness.

The accused dog is unable to defend himself, so Bdelocleon speaks on his behalf. He argues that even though the dog stole cheese, he is a good guard and protector, so he deserves to be let go. When Philocleon counts the votes, he finds that the dog has been acquitted. He is so shocked that he faints.

The Banquet

Bdelocleon tells his father not to worry about his loss in court. He promises to take care of Philocleon and take him to fancy dinners and entertainment. Bdelocleon gives his father a new outfit for a dinner party, but Philocleon does not want to wear it. He refuses to give up his old cloak and criticizes the new one because it is Persian, made by Athens’s enemy. He also dislikes the shoes, which are Spartan, another enemy of Athens.

Eventually, Philocleon agrees to wear the fancy clothes, and Bdelocleon suggests they start the party with some drinks. Philocleon is cautious because he knows drinking can lead to problems, but Bdelocleon does not worry and tells him to handle arguments with jokes and stories.

At the party, a flute girl arrives. Philocleon immediately steals her and tries to hide her from his son by pretending she is a torch. Other guests start recognizing Philocleon from past court cases where he charged them with offenses. He tries to calm them down with stories, but his stories are inappropriate and make things worse.

When Philocleon gets too out of control, Bdelocleon picks him up and carries him away from the party. Even though the party ends badly, the chorus sees a positive side. They believe that Philocleon has gained new experiences, which means he has a chance for a happy future. They praise Bdelocleon for his dedication to his father.

The Crabs

At the end of the play, Aristophanes mocks writers of tragedy. He often made fun of tragic playwrights in his comedies, trying to show that comedy was just as important as tragedy. At the party, Philocleon challenges Athenian tragedy writers to a dance contest. Boys dressed as crabs come onto the stage and dance with Philocleon, creating a ridiculous and humorous scene to close the play.

Themes Analysis

1. Critique of the Athenian Legal System

Aristophanes satirizes the Athenian jury system, portraying it as corrupt and exploitative. Philocleon's addiction to serving as a juror reflects the playwright’s concern that ordinary citizens were manipulated into believing they had power, while real control rested with politicians. Bdelocleon's arguments expose how jurors are underpaid and deceived into thinking they wield great influence, while wealth flows into the hands of a few.

2. Generational Conflict

The clash between Philocleon and Bdelocleon represents the generational divide in Athens. Philocleon symbolizes the older generation, nostalgic for the old ways and fiercely loyal to the democratic jury system. Bdelocleon, on the other hand, represents a younger, more rational perspective, challenging his father’s blind devotion to the court and attempting to introduce him to a more sophisticated lifestyle.

3. The Power of Persuasion and Debate

The debate between Philocleon and Bdelocleon is a key moment in the play. Aristophanes uses this scene to demonstrate the power of logic and rhetoric. While Philocleon initially defends his jury service with pride, his arguments are systematically dismantled by his son, who exposes the flaws in his reasoning. This section of the play highlights how persuasive speech can be used to reshape deeply held beliefs.

4. Absurdity of Athenian Society

The ridiculous Dog's Trial scene parodies the Athenian legal system, showing how petty and arbitrary court cases could be. By turning a household dispute into a mock trial, Aristophanes exaggerates the Athenian obsession with litigation. The absurdity of putting a dog on trial reflects the tendency of Athenian citizens to sue others over trivial matters.

5. Cultural Satire and Athenian Identity

The play also mocks Athens' cultural influences. Philocleon’s refusal to wear Persian and Spartan clothing satirizes Athenian nationalism and resistance to foreign customs. Aristophanes exaggerates this attitude to highlight how cultural identity could sometimes be rigid and self-defeating.

6. The Transformation of Philocleon

Philocleon’s journey from an obsessive juror to an unruly partygoer demonstrates that extreme change is not necessarily beneficial. Instead of reforming into a balanced individual, he swings from one extreme to another, from strict legalism to reckless hedonism. His antics at the banquet suggest that replacing one addiction with another does not lead to self-improvement.

7. Comedy vs. Tragedy

Aristophanes takes a jab at tragic playwrights in the final scenes. By introducing dancing crabs and making Philocleon challenge tragedy writers, he reinforces comedy’s role in Athenian culture. This reflects Aristophanes' broader defense of comedy as a legitimate and valuable artistic form.

Character Analysis

Philocleon

Philocleon, whose name means "Lover of Cleon" (a reference to the Athenian politician), is an old man obsessed with serving as a juror in Athenian courts. His addiction to litigation is so extreme that his family is forced to keep him under house arrest. He represents the older generation of Athenians who take pride in their participation in the democratic judicial system, even to the point of absurdity. His character is both comical and tragic—comical in his desperate attempts to escape and his blind loyalty to the court system, and tragic in his realization that his life has been spent serving a corrupt system for minimal personal gain.

However, once he is reformed by his son, he struggles to adapt to a new way of life. His attempt to enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle leads to social embarrassment, showing that extreme shifts in character may not always lead to better outcomes.

Bdelocleon

Bdelocleon (whose name means "Hater of Cleon") is Philocleon’s son and the voice of reason in the play. He wants to free his father from his obsession with the court and tries to convince him that his juror’s pay is meager compared to the wealth controlled by Athenian politicians. Bdelocleon represents a younger, more rational perspective, skeptical of the populist leaders who manipulate the masses for political gain.

Though he succeeds in reforming his father, his solution—introducing Philocleon to an elite lifestyle—does not go as planned. His failure to truly change Philocleon’s nature highlights the difficulty of altering deeply ingrained habits and beliefs.

Sosias and Xanthias

These two household servants provide comic relief and serve as intermediaries between the audience and the main characters. Their struggles to stay awake while guarding Philocleon highlight the ridiculous nature of his obsession. Their skeptical attitude toward both Philocleon and Bdelocleon suggests that common people may not take political debates as seriously as their masters.

The Chorus of Wasps

The chorus consists of old jurors dressed as wasps, symbolizing their aggressive and stinging nature in court. They represent the older generation of Athenians who are deeply invested in the legal system, seeing it as a source of personal power and civic duty. Their loyalty to Philocleon and their attempt to free him suggest that they, like him, are trapped in an outdated mindset that Aristophanes critiques.

The Dogs (Household Trial Scene)

The two dogs in the mock trial—one accused of stealing cheese and the other serving as a witness—serve as an allegory for Athenian legal absurdities. The trial satirizes how petty and biased the legal system can be. When Bdelocleon successfully defends the accused dog, it demonstrates how easily legal proceedings can be manipulated, reinforcing the idea that the court system is not as fair or noble as Philocleon believes.

Philocleon’s Transformation (and Flaws)

By the end of the play, Philocleon has swapped his obsession with the courtroom for a reckless and undignified pursuit of pleasure. His behavior at the banquet—stealing a flute girl, telling inappropriate stories, and causing trouble—demonstrates that his reformation was not entirely successful. Instead of being freed from addiction, he has simply replaced one obsession with another. This suggests that true personal change is difficult and that excess—whether in politics or pleasure—is ultimately harmful.

Structure of the Play

1. Opening Scene (Standing Guard): Introduces Philocleon’s condition and sets up the central conflict.
2. Chorus of Wasps: The wasp-like jurors represent the aggressive and combative nature of Athenian dicasts.
3. Debate Between Philocleon and Bdelocleon: Serves as the intellectual core of the play, using logic and humor to dismantle Philocleon’s arguments.
4. The Dog’s Trial: A parody of Athenian court cases, highlighting the absurdity of the legal system.
5. The Banquet: Shows Philocleon’s attempt to embrace a new lifestyle, which ultimately spirals into chaos.
6. The Crabs/Dance Scene: A farcical conclusion mocking tragic conventions.

Comedic Techniques

1.      Exaggeration: Philocleon's extreme addiction to jury service and his transformation into a wild partygoer are exaggerated for comic effect.

2.      Parody: The Dog’s Trial ridicules the Athenian legal system.

3.      Satirical Debate: The structured debate format allows Aristophanes to critique Athenian democracy through humor.

4.      Slapstick and Physical Comedy: Scenes like Philocleon trying to escape as smoke or stealing the flute girl add to the play’s entertainment.

So, The Wasps is both a political and social satire, using humor to critique Athenian democracy, the court system, and cultural attitudes. While the play ends on a lighthearted note, it raises serious questions about power, manipulation, and societal values. Aristophanes effectively blends intellectual humor with slapstick comedy, making The Wasps a sharp yet entertaining commentary on Athenian society.