Great Books Ep 99. Aristophanes - The Peace. Ordinary Citizens Crave Harmony
Common people - who bear the costs of wars through lost lives, ruined farms, and broken families - ardently desire peace while leaders and war profiteers perpetuate conflicts for their own gain.
Hermes: “I know not if ye e'er again Will see the face of Peace.”
Trygaeus: “Why, where's she gone to?”
He: “War has immured her in a deep deep pit.”
Tr: “Where?”
He: “Here, beneath our feet. And you may see The heavy stones he piled about its mouth, That none should take her out.”
~ ‘The Peace’ by Aristophanes (Benjamin B. Rogers translation. GB5 - p. 528)
Brief Summary
I’m on the 5th play of Aristophanes, and I guess I know the general structure of the plays by now. The plays always start with two servants talking (except ‘The Clouds’, where the two people at the start were a father-son duo). Here, two servants of Trygaeus, a farmer, talk to each other about the difficulty of feeding a giant beetle. Trygaeus has decided to fly to heaven to confront Zeus about the war that has brought about so much destruction to everyone. He has tried different ways but always ended up crashing down. He finally buys a giant beetle, and when his daughters ask him why not Pegasus, he says, as per Aesop’s fables, a beetle went to the heavens to take revenge on an eagle. He hops on and flies away.
“It is the only living thing with wings, So Aesop says, that ever reached the Gods.”
He reaches the heavens and finds no one. He sees Hermes, who tells him that Zeus and the gods have abandoned their home, leaving War in charge because people always want war.
“Because, though They were oftentimes for Peace, You always would have War.”
War has imprisoned Peace in a deep pit and plans to grind up all Greek cities in a giant mortar. War tells Riot to go get a pestle to grind, but Riot is not able to find it in any of the cities, meaning they have already spent all their main ammunition. Trygaeus feels that this is an opportunity to rescue Peace. He convinces Hermes to help rescue Peace and also rallies all the Greek cities to help.
“Till with levers, cranes, and pulleys once again to light we haul Peace, the Goddess best and greatest, vineyard-lovingest of all.”
Everyone tries to pull, but since different cities and people in different sections of the society pull in different directions, they are not able to get Peace out of the pit. Finally, when everyone is removed and only the farmers do the pulling, Peace comes out, accompanied by her servants Harvesthome and Mayfair, indicating that only the ordinary people have a common goal to get peace.
The play then shows us the immediate effects of peace through a series of vignettes. Farmers and merchants celebrate their returning prosperity, while arms dealers and makers of military equipment lament their losses. An oracle named Hierocles tries to prevent the peace process but is made fun of and driven away - showing how religious authority was often used to promote war.
“the hour has come To throw away our troubles and our wars, And, ere another pestle rise to stop us, To pull out Peace, the joy of all mankind.
O all ye farmers, merchants, artisans, O all ye craftsmen, aliens, sojourners, O all ye islanders, O all ye peoples, Come with ropes, and spades, and crowbars, come in eager hurrying haste, Now the cup of happy fortune, brothers, it is ours to taste.”
The comedy concludes with Trygaeus’s wedding to Harvesthome, a symbolic union between the people and the prosperity that peace brings. The chorus celebrates with songs about the simple pleasures of rural life - drinking wine with friends, watching figs ripen, and enjoying abundant harvests. These images of peace and plenty stand in stark contrast to the destruction of war depicted earlier.
“While our figs in plenty and peace we eat, And our wives are blest with an increase sweet; And we gather back in abundant store The many blessings we lost before; And the fiery steel —be it known no more.”
My Thoughts
I think the main theme is that the common people want peace and the leaders and merchants who benefit from war, by selling shields, helmets, swords, etc., want war.
“And the chief Laconian leaders by enormous bribes they gained.
These at once for filthy lucre, guest-deluders as they are, Hustling out this gracious lady, greedily embraced the War.”
War is generally political in nature and a power-grabbing strategy by leaders. Leaders use ideology, religion, patriotism, etc., to get countries into war. It was interesting to see this quote where Hermes says that Peace is angry with people for choosing a leader who wants war.
He. “She turns away in anger from the people, For taking to itself so vile a leader.”
It is so pertinent now. If you have a leader who throws diplomacy out of the window and goes to war even with the allies, it sets the stage to push the country back. I guess the play is suggesting that the responsibility ultimately lies with the citizens - they have the power to choose leaders who seek peace or war.
The play reminds us that the story of humanity itself is that of periods of peace and war. It is a pattern that has often been repeated throughout history in different places at different times. Even wars fought as great uprisings are often not about ideology or national interest but about profit and power for a select few. With so many different scenes, songs and prayers, the play reminds us that peace brings prosperity and joy while war brings only suffering and waste.
AI Response to the Post (Gemini)
1. Expanding on Your Thoughts: Peace, Profit, and Power
You’ve rightly pointed out the play’s critique of how wars often serve the interests of a select few rather than the common good. Aristophanes vividly portrays this through the characters of the arms dealers and merchants who lament the coming of peace. Their distress highlights the economic engine that fuels war. It’s not just about abstract “national interest” or ideological clashes; it’s about tangible profit. These individuals and groups profit directly from the manufacture and sale of weapons, the provisioning of armies, and the spoils of conquest. For them, peace is bad for business.
This connects to your observation about leaders manipulating public sentiment. The play suggests that leaders often use rhetoric about patriotism, honor, or even divine mandate to mask their true motivations, which are frequently tied to personal gain or the consolidation of power. They understand that fear and animosity are powerful tools for mobilizing populations and justifying military action. By stirring up these emotions, they can secure popular support for wars that ultimately benefit them and their cronies. The play’s depiction of Hierocles, the oracle-monger, exemplifies this. He uses religious pronouncements to try and derail the peace process, suggesting that even spiritual authority can be corrupted and used to serve warmongering agendas.
Furthermore, the play hints at the cyclical nature of conflict. As Hermes explains, the gods are tired of humans constantly choosing war over peace. This implies that even when peace is achieved, there’s a risk of it being undermined by those who stand to gain from renewed conflict. The arms dealers and merchants, for example, won’t simply disappear after peace is declared. They’ll likely seek new markets for their wares, perhaps even fomenting conflict elsewhere to keep their businesses thriving. This underscores the importance of vigilance and the need to address the root causes of war, including the economic incentives that drive it.
2. Deeper Analysis of Themes and Symbolism
Beyond the themes you’ve already identified, “The Peace” explores several other important ideas:
The Power of the Common People: The play emphasizes the importance of the common people in achieving and maintaining peace. Trygaeus, a simple farmer, is the hero of the play, not a king or general. It’s the collective effort of the farmers and other ordinary citizens that finally frees Peace from her pit. This suggests that true peace can only be achieved when it’s driven by the will of the people, not imposed from above. This resonates with the play’s title, as “peace” (eirene) was a goddess worshipped by the common people, particularly farmers, in ancient Greece.
The Simplicity of Peace: Aristophanes contrasts the chaos and destruction of war with the simple joys and abundance of peace. The play’s final scenes, depicting the harvest and the wedding feast, symbolize the prosperity and happiness that peace brings. These images of rural life and domestic bliss represent the values that are truly worth fighting for, not military glory or political dominance. The figs, the wine, the family – these are the things that make life worth living and are threatened by war.
The Absurdity of War: Like many of Aristophanes’ comedies, “The Peace” uses humor and satire to expose the folly of war. The image of Trygaeus riding a dung beetle to heaven is inherently comical, but it also serves to highlight the absurdity of human conflict. The play suggests that war is often driven by irrational impulses and petty squabbles, rather than by any genuine ideological differences. The inability of Riot to find a pestle in any of the cities is a brilliant satirical point, suggesting that the cities have already exhausted all their resources on war, emphasizing its futility.
The Role of Diplomacy and Negotiation: While not explicitly stated, the play implies the importance of diplomacy and negotiation in resolving conflicts. Trygaeus’s journey to heaven can be seen as a kind of diplomatic mission, as he seeks to engage with the gods and persuade them to restore peace. The play also suggests that dialogue and understanding between different groups are essential for building lasting peace.
3. Thought-Provoking Questions for Modern Readers
How relevant is “The Peace” to contemporary conflicts? Are the economic and political forces that drive wars today similar to those depicted in the play?
What role do ordinary citizens play in promoting peace? Can individuals make a difference, or is peace primarily the responsibility of governments and international organizations?
How can we address the economic incentives that fuel war? Are there ways to create a global economy that is less dependent on military spending and arms manufacturing?
Does the play offer any insights into the challenges of maintaining peace after a conflict has ended? How can societies rebuild and reconcile after periods of war?
How do we balance the desire for peace with the need to defend against aggression? Is it possible to achieve peace without compromising national security?
What is the role of the media in shaping public opinion about war and peace? How can we ensure that the media provides accurate and unbiased information about conflicts?