The Frogs

Drama | Aristophanes

Why Did Aeschylus and Euripides Attack Each Other?

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Why did Aeschylus and Euripides attack each other What was the result Or How did Dionysus resolve the dispute between Aeschylus and Euripides NU In The Frogs BCE Aristophanes c BCE presents a famous poetic debate between Aeschylus and Euripides in the Underworld Both poets attack each other to prove their superiority in art Dionysus acting as a judge finally settles their dispute wisely Reason for the Conflict Aeschylus and Euripides quarrel over the title of the greatest tragic poet Aeschylus once held the seat of honor in Pluto s hall But Euripides after his death claims that he deserves it Their fight reflects two opposite ideas of art Aeschylus believes in noble and moral poetry Euripides believes in realistic and clever expression Aeschylus s Attack on Euripides Aeschylus attacks Euripides for corrupting Greek drama He says Because of him our city here is crammed with apes who always cheat

our people He believes that Euripides' plays teach people deceit rather than virtue He claims My poetry did not die with me but his did once he died His words defend heroic values faith and discipline Aeschylus embodies ancient wisdom and moral fortitude His attack shows his deep love for truth and his dislike for false cleverness in art Euripides s Attack on Aeschylus Euripides also mocks Aeschylus for using grand and pompous language He says When I took this art of plays from you crammed with bombast to the gills I reduced its weight He claims that he made drama simple and realistic Euripides believes his characters are human and natural However his ideas also show pride and narrowness Dionysus s Final Judgment When both poets fail to convince him Dionysus decides to test them He weighs their poetry on a scale and finds Aeschylus s verses weightier Finally he asks each poet for advice to save Athens In short Aeschylus and Euripides attack each other to prove artistic greatness Dionysus resolves their quarrel through justice and wisdom Aristophanes shows that true art must guide uplift and save human society nbsp

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