Great Books Ep 100. Aristophanes - The Birds. Seeking Freedom and Utopia, Creating Autocracy

Revolutionary movements often end up recreating the very systems they sought to overthrow.

Photo by Praveen kumar Mathivanan on Unsplash

“That’s why we are journeying on this journey now, \ Trudging along with basket, pot, and myrtles, \ To find some quiet easy-going spot, \ Where we may settle down, and dwell in peace.”

~ ‘The Birds’ by Aristophanes (Benjamin B. Rogers translation. GB5 - p. 542)

Brief Summary

The story starts with two Athenians,…