Source edition
Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This comedy depicts a fierce and satirical struggle for the favor and control of Demos, a character personifying the Athenian populace, between the corrupt politician known as the Paphlagonian and a vulgar sausage-seller. Prompted by an oracle stolen by oppressed servants which predicts that a sausage-seller is destined to overthrow the current tyrant, the protagonist is thrust into the political arena with the support of the Chorus of noble Knights. In the middle of the play, the two rivals engage in an absurdly intense shouting match, competing over who can be more shameless, misinterpret oracles more self-servingly, and offer grander bribes to flatter Demos. Ultimately, the sausage-seller triumphs, driving the Paphlagonian from power and revealing his true name, Agoracritus. In the conclusion, he magically rejuvenates Demos back to his glorious, youthful prime, leading a reformed and repentant Demos toward a brighter political future.