Plutus Play

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 it to you as being the most faithful and the most rascally of all my servants. 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 among the just and kind men, Zeus turned against him and denied him his ability to see: Explaining the cause of his misery, he says: Zeus inflicted it on me, because of his jealousy of-mankind.

When I was young, I threatened him that I would only go to the just, the wise, the men of ordered life; to prevent my distinguishing these, he struck me with blindness' so much does he envy the good! Plutus then demands to leave. However Cario and Chremylus try to convince him why he is needed. They argue that it is because of poverty that just and wise men are denied their rights while the wealthy continue to inflict pain upon poor people.

Cario argues that he was a slave because of poverty: I myself was bought for a few coins; if I'm a slave, it's only because I was not rich. Plutus is convinced and Chremylus takes him home to meet his wife and son. There Chremylus reveals that he believes in moderation so even if he gets all the money in the world, he would still be prudent. "moderation is the strong point in my character.

I love saving as much as anybody, and I know how to spend, when it's needed." Cario is incredibly happy with the agreement. He announces to every poor man in his town that they would all soon be.