Great Books Ep 96. Aristophanes - The Knights. Is Politics a Dirty Game?
Reflecting on politicians who lie, cheat, and manipulate their way to the top.
There are things, then, hotter than fire; there are speeches more shameless still Than the shameless speeches of those who rule the City at will.
~ ‘The Knights’ by Aristophanes (Benjamin B. Rogers translation. GB5 - p. 474)
Brief Summary
The play starts with two slaves, Demosthenes and Nicias, running out of their master, Demus’ home, wailing and complaining about a new slave, Paphlagon, who has become the master’s favorite and has been getting other slaves flogged. They cannot run away since deserters are punished severely. They are even afraid to say the word desert and hence say ‘sert’ and ‘de’ a few times. They mention that Paphlagon, though new to the household, is ‘the greatest rogue and liar in the world’ and has gained influence over Demus through flattery and cunningness. After Demosthenes mentions that wine can make him think clearly, Nicias goes into the house and steals a bottle. Having found that Paphlagon is sleeping, Nicias again sneaks into the house and comes back with the sacred oracle with a list of prophecies, which describe a succession of “sellers” who will take over the home - An oakum-seller, A sheep-seller, a leather-seller (Paphlagon) and finally a sausage-seller who will overthrow Paphlagon. The sausage-seller comes their way and they are overjoyed. While Nicias goes inside to watch over Paphlagon, Demosthenes tells the sausage-seller that he is lucky - he will rule everything - the Agora, the Harbors, the Pnyx, etc. The sausage-seller is reluctant and skeptical and says that he lacks the basic education, to which Demosthenes replies that being uneducated makes him perfect for leadership!
To be a Demus-leader is not now / For lettered men, nor yet for honest men / But for the base and ignorant. Don't let slip / The bright occasion which the Gods provide you.
Demosthenes says the oracle’s words, ‘when the eagle seizes the serpent, the eagle will die’, can be interpreted as the eagle being the Paphlagon and the serpent being the sausage-seller since sausage and serpent have the same shape.
Paphlagon comes in and sees Demosthenes & the sausage-seller talking and tells them that they are villains and traitors and are always conspiring. The Chorus of Knights enters and starts accusing Paphlagon of being an extortioner and a rascal. Paphlagon appeals to his supporters. The sausage-seller joins the fray and enters into a long argument with Paphlagon. Paphlagon accuses the sausage-seller of smuggling supplies, and the sausage-seller accuses Paphlagon of his behavior in the council hall. They both vow to shout each other down. Both admit to stealing and lying and try to outdo each other in their shamelessness. The argument escalates to both threatening physical harm to each other in detail. The Chorus and Demosthenes add fuel to the fire by describing how they would torture Paphlagon. Paphlagon says that he does not fear the sausage-seller or his allies since he has the support of the Council and will go to the council-house and expose them all. While Paphlagon & the sausage-seller go off to talk to the Council, the Chorus directly addresses the audience about the playwright. The sausage-seller comes back triumphant, having outdone Paphlagon through his trickery. While Paphlagon focuses on debate and argument, the sausage seller focuses on distraction, small gestures of generosity and wins over the Council.
The rest of the play consists of various contents between Paphlagon and the Sausage-seller to win Demos’s favor - through oracles, offerings of food, outrageously grand promises, accusations of corruption, etc. The play concludes with a dramatic twist in which Demos transforms back to his youthful self and promises to fix existing problems, elevates the sausage-seller to being the steward and demotes Paphlagon to being the sausage-seller.
My Thoughts
It is amazing to reflect on how relevant the play is to the current political landscape, especially during the elections and the debates. The competition between Paphlagon and the sausage-seller is not just a political rivalry where they talk about how best they can manage the house that they want to control, but a deep personal hatred for each other. They hurl accusations against each other and threaten to assault each other. Even when they threaten to do physical harm to each other in the most cruel manner, it never actually escalates to using physical force; it stops at verbal combat, even though that is very vicious. I wonder if people have lost that ability now. Instead of scolding people when they do wrong or when someone starts ranting something, people seem to be quick to use physical force or flee.
In many ways, I think this is the play for the current times. The scenarios and the dialogues are sharp critiques of so many systems around the world. It shows how demagogues use flattery, cajoling and prophesying to manipulate the people (like Paphlagon manipulates Demus to have other slaves flogged), how political success comes from shamelessness rather than virtue (sausage-seller is more shameless than Paphlagon), how statistics and predictions can be interpreted to suit one’s agenda (Demosthenes linking the prophecy about snake to sausage-seller) and so many more.
Also, around the world, people generally view politicians as corrupt, but they always deny it. In this case, others accuse Paphlagon of corruption, and he pretends to be virtuous. On the other hand, the sausage-seller openly talks about his own cunningness and trickery, and people praise that! At least, he admits that he is a thief, is it?! I’ve heard someone (Obama?) say “when they go low, you go high”, but looks like what the play is saying is, “when they go low, you go lower”!
The sausage-seller wins by distracting people’s attention and doing small things and making a big show of it. For e.g., talking about the availability of cheap fish to the Council when Paphlagon is making an elaborate argument to oust the sausage-seller, giving garnish to the Council after they buy fish, giving shoes to Demus, etc. Grand visions, noble ideas and long rational arguments don’t help win over common people, but attention to basic needs does.
The other point that came to mind was about the role of a political leader. Who are political leaders in a democracy?
Are they servants to the people? If Demus represents the people of Athens, Paphlagon and the other slaves are the democratically elected leaders. They come to power by offering larger-than-life promises but end up looting the house.
Paphlagon says he can serve like a courtesan, and to counter him, the sausage-seller says Demus can use him like a sacrificial lamb and slaughter him. Yeah! People come to power saying they will be like courtesans who the people can use for their enjoyment or sacrificial lamb that people can do whatever they want with, but the tables turn after they come to power.
Paphlagon boasts about squeezing money from some citizens to please Demus, while the Sausage-seller promises to simply steal from others to feed him. So, are politicians just brokers who take something from one section of the society and give to another?
Also, political leaders have a disadvantage in a democracy because their negatives - actions or words - can loom much larger than their positives. So a hard-working person focused on a mission can be painted as a corrupt rogue by the opposition. And, when everyone accuses everyone, it is difficult to find out what the real truth is.
AI Response to the Post
Text Response (Gemini)
It’s fantastic that you’re engaging with Aristophanes’ “The Knights” so thoughtfully! This play is a treasure trove of political satire that remains surprisingly relevant even today. Here are some ideas to further your exploration:
1. Rogues and Cunningness in Leadership
You’re right to observe that the play suggests rogues often ascend to power through cunning. Aristophanes uses hyperbole and absurdity to illustrate this. Paphlagon (representing the real-life Athenian demagogue Cleon) and the Sausage-seller both embody this trait. They lie, cheat, and manipulate their way to the top. This resonates with the idea that those who are most skilled at gaining power are not necessarily those who are most suited to wield it. They are often driven by self-interest and ambition, rather than a genuine desire to serve the people.
Machiavellianism: This brings to mind Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” which argues that a ruler must be willing to use deception and cunning to maintain power. “The Knights” seems to support this idea, showing how those who are willing to “go low” can often outmaneuver those who try to “go high.”
The Power of Rhetoric: The play also highlights the power of rhetoric and persuasion in politics. Both Paphlagon and the Sausage-seller are skilled orators who use their words to sway the opinions of Demus (the personified Athenian public). This reminds us to be critical consumers of political speech and to look beyond the surface of charismatic personalities.
2. Deeper Analysis of Themes and Symbolism
The Fickle Nature of the Populace: Demus, the personified Athenian public, is portrayed as gullible and easily swayed by flattery and empty promises. This reflects a deep-seated anxiety about the wisdom of the masses and the potential for democracy to be undermined by demagoguery.
The Corruption of Power: The play vividly depicts how power corrupts. Both Paphlagon and the Sausage-seller, once in positions of authority, engage in self-serving behavior and exploit their power for personal gain. This serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of unchecked power.
The Importance of Civic Engagement: Though satirical, “The Knights” also emphasizes the importance of active citizenship. The Chorus of Knights, representing the Athenian aristocracy, plays a crucial role in challenging the demagogues and ultimately restoring order. This suggests that citizens have a responsibility to hold their leaders accountable and to participate in the political process.
Lessons for Today’s World:
Media Literacy: In the age of social media and information overload, the play’s message about the power of rhetoric and the susceptibility of the masses to manipulation is more relevant than ever. We must be critical consumers of information and resist the allure of simplistic solutions and empty promises.
Ethical Leadership: The play reminds us that true leadership requires more than just ambition and cunning. Leaders should be guided by integrity, compassion, and a genuine desire to serve the common good.
The Fragility of Democracy: “The Knights” serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy and the constant need to safeguard it against demagogues and those who would exploit it for their own ends.
3. Thought-Provoking Questions for Modern Readers:
Does the play’s cynical portrayal of politics still hold true today? Are politicians primarily motivated by self-interest and ambition, or are there genuine public servants?
How can we, as citizens, protect ourselves against demagoguery and manipulation in the modern media landscape?
What qualities should we look for in our leaders? How can we ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions?
Does the play offer any solutions to the problems it identifies? Or is it simply a pessimistic commentary on the human condition?