Politics and Persuasion in Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae

Download or read book Politics and Persuasion in Aristophanes' Ecclesiazusae written by K.S. Rothwell and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2018-07-17 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study shows that the Ecclesiazusae is an affirmation of the importance of persuasion in the fourth- century democracy. Praxagora, the attractive and articulate female protagonist, virtually personifies peitho, the realm of both political persuasion and erotic seduction. The ability of peitho to address both public and private motivations makes it the perfect instrument to resolve the tension in the fourth century between selfishness and civic participation. This is, after all, the central issue in the later episodes of the play.