Verified Document

Plutus Play Term Paper

Related Topics:

Aristophanes: Plutus Plutus is the last extant comedy of Aristophanes that focuses on the moral aspect of poverty and views riches from an ethical standpoint. The play has often been considered least significant of all Aristophanes' plays but it has its own charm and appeal to those who understood Aristophanes' comic style. The play has many character but the three more important ones are Plutus, (the god of riches), Chremylus (a just man) and Cario (or Carion, Chremylus' servant). The story begins when Chremylus complaints to oracle of Apollo that only scoundrels and wicked people wealthy while the just and righteous remain poor. Cario is extremely unhappy at the situation and doesn't understand why his master has abandoned worship of gods.

Aye, master, unless you tell me why we are following this unknown fellow, I will not be silent, but I will worry and torment you, for you cannot beat me because of my sacred chaplet of laurel.

He continues to torment Chremylus and demands an answer. He wants to know why Chremylus doesn't want to remain a just man any longer. Chremylus who has always lived a morally upright life, explains:

I will reveal...

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

I honoured the gods and did what was right, and yet I was none the less poor and unfortunate .... Others amassed wealth -- the sacrilegious, the demagogues, the informers, indeed every sort of rascal.
Cario is told why Chremylus is following a blind man, Plutus and not the gods any more. He explains that he went to the oracle and was advised to follow the advice of the first man he met after leaving the Temple. Plutus was the first man he met. Chremylus is chided by Cario who feels he has committed a mistake and demands to know who Plutus is. Plutus answers in equally rude and rough manner to which Cario sarcastically remarks: "Ah! what a pleasant fellow and what a delightful prophecy the god has given you!"

Upon discovering his identity, Cario and Chremylus are in a state of shock. They cannot understand why Plutus is in such a wretched condition: CHREMYLUS: You, Plutus, and in this piteous guise! Oh, Phoebus Apollo! oh, ye gods of heaven and hell! Oh, Zeus! is it really and truly as you say?

Plutus explains that since he wanted riches to be distributed…

Sources used in this document:
Chremylus, Cario and Plutus then work for fair distribution of wealth as Plutus regains his sight. On their journey, they meet many people from The informer to the Just, to the Youth and the Old woman etc. The most important meeting is with Poverty where she explains why she must dwell in the country and speaks against the plans of Chremylus and Plutus. A priest of Zeus complains that since Plutus has started working again, he has lost everything. The play ends on a solemn note as Chremylus and others manage to convince the people of the righteousness of their actions.

REFERENCE

1) All quotations are taken from the Online version of Plutus. Retrieved (20th Feb 2005) from http://www.textkit.com/learn/ID/27/author_id/8/
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Carl Orff
Words: 2111 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

Carl Orff a German composer, was born in Munich, Germany on July 10, 1895. Munich had been the place where Orff grew up and where his life had been shaped. The childhood days of Orff brought him a lot of memories that he used later as inspirations for his works and compositions. Carl Orff started to develop his talent in music at the age of 5. He received his first piano,

Ancient Comedy Fragments
Words: 4211 Length: 12 Document Type: Research Paper

Aristophanes Acharnians, Knights, and Clouds are three of the most revered works by Aristophanes. These works are of particular interest to this discourse because they have clear political and social nuances which affected the manner in which they were received in Ancient Athens. The discussion posits that Aristophanes had concrete political concerns and he utilized his craft as a dramatist to expose these matters with the purpose of affecting change in

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now