What do the clouds say?
This post is focused around the first chorus song, the parodos, in the Clouds. This song introduces the choir to the audience and informs them how to perceive the chorus; you can do only so much with costumes and attributes, especially in antiquity. As such, we can learn a lot on the nature of clouds according to the Greek in the 5th century BCE. Being personified godlike characters, the clouds reveal not only how they act as natural phenomena, but also as divine beings (although the divine aspect is a satirical jest of Aristophanes, yet there must lie some truth beneath this association).
This view of clouds is similar to the Epicureans stance towards gods: gods and other divine creatures do exist in some kind of sphere (or in the sky), but they are not bothered or concerned with any mundane matters. This would defy the idea of gods being blessed: in order to become blessed, gods must not interfere with the mortal world. As a positive consequence, humans don't have to fear to anger the gods. It's a win-win scenario. Moreover, the clouds almost seem to rejoice in observing the beautifully detailed landscapes, although they are also not able to do anything else otherwise ("the eyes of the sky shine restlessly")
Chorus:
We the Eternal Clouds,
let us rise, showing in our appearance our humidity and brightness,
starting from our father, the Ocean, bringer of loud complaints to sailors,
and rise as high as the summits of the high mountains, adorned with crowns of trees,
in order for us to look at faraway visible hill-tops,
and the burbling of the glistening rivers
and the sea with his strong crashing waves,
for the eyes of the sky shine brightly restlessly
with their glistening rays.
but after we have shaken off the rainy clouds
from our immortal form, let us look upon
the earth with our far-seeing eyes.
Socrates, the fanatic
Socrates is portrayed as a fanatic of these Clouds/Gods. The difference between him and Strepsiades is quite abundant. While saying that he respects the Clouds, Strepsiades mocks them by comparing thunder to farting. He is able to do so, as he recognises that the Clouds won't be bothered by such insignificant statements (and for the fact that they are Clouds and don't have any agency, presumably). Contrarily, Socrates focuses on what the clouds do (their agency) and their presence, even assuming that they will be displeased by Strepsiades's disrespect. Funnily enough, the audience (who can really hear the words of the Clouds) knows that they won't do anything but existing in the sky. This representation of the Clouds could even be linked to the "ideas" of Plato: yet, why would this be attributed to Socrates? And why is Socrates in other aspects more like the rhetorical sophists? The whole portrayal of this person seems to be ridiculous in this play.
Socrates:
O widely worshipped Clouds, you clearly heard me calling for you.
(to Strepsiades) did you notice how they sang and how their divine thunder rumbled simultaneously?
Strepsiades:
(to the clouds) I revere thee too, highly honoured ones, and I desire to respond to thee
in similar rumblings to thou thunder; so much do I tremble before them and am I afraid of them.
And if it is granted, I will fart now already, and if it is not, I still need to fart.
Socrates:
Don't mock them nor act similarly to those damn comedians
but keep quite like a decent human being;
for a large thong of gods is on the move and starts to sing again.
Advertisement for Athens
This segment (the anti-strophe) focuses more on what the Clouds see, so we move from the subject to the object of the gaze. And of course, the Clouds are watching (similar to the audience) what is happening on the stage, in "Athens." While Aristophanes is on the subject of Athens, it cannot do any harm to praise the city where your play is being judged: in other words, advertising.
Chorus:
Rain-bringing girls,
let us go to the shining land of Pallas, where we will see
the lovely country of Kekrops, full of brave men,
where there exists reverence for religious rites one cannot speak off, so
the house of the initiated (the temple at Eleusis) is on display during
the holy festivals,
and there are gifts to the celestial gods,
and high-roofed temples and statues,
and the most sacred procession of blessed people
and well-crowned sacrifices and festivities of the gods
in the various seasons,
and in the early coming spring, there is the Bacchic glorious feast
and competitions of the melodious choruses
and the loud-sounding music of pipes.
What do the clouds say?
They say who they are, where they are coming from, what they are doing, and what they see happening in Athens. Nothing too interesting seems to happen but for the portrayal of Socrates (who stays a mystery man).
What do clouds in the air?
Apparently, Clouds do not much once they have ascended to the sky. All they do is gliding through the air and watching the earth beneath them. Once in a while, they pour down some rain from their appearance, which turns them into the nice white clouds again. Is this a message to let go of the negative thoughts (the rain) you have boiled up inside you? The clouds seem to utter this whole song solemnly and carefree.This view of clouds is similar to the Epicureans stance towards gods: gods and other divine creatures do exist in some kind of sphere (or in the sky), but they are not bothered or concerned with any mundane matters. This would defy the idea of gods being blessed: in order to become blessed, gods must not interfere with the mortal world. As a positive consequence, humans don't have to fear to anger the gods. It's a win-win scenario. Moreover, the clouds almost seem to rejoice in observing the beautifully detailed landscapes, although they are also not able to do anything else otherwise ("the eyes of the sky shine restlessly")
Chorus:
We the Eternal Clouds,
let us rise, showing in our appearance our humidity and brightness,
starting from our father, the Ocean, bringer of loud complaints to sailors,
and rise as high as the summits of the high mountains, adorned with crowns of trees,
in order for us to look at faraway visible hill-tops,
and the burbling of the glistening rivers
and the sea with his strong crashing waves,
for the eyes of the sky shine brightly restlessly
with their glistening rays.
but after we have shaken off the rainy clouds
from our immortal form, let us look upon
the earth with our far-seeing eyes.
Socrates, the fanatic
Socrates is portrayed as a fanatic of these Clouds/Gods. The difference between him and Strepsiades is quite abundant. While saying that he respects the Clouds, Strepsiades mocks them by comparing thunder to farting. He is able to do so, as he recognises that the Clouds won't be bothered by such insignificant statements (and for the fact that they are Clouds and don't have any agency, presumably). Contrarily, Socrates focuses on what the clouds do (their agency) and their presence, even assuming that they will be displeased by Strepsiades's disrespect. Funnily enough, the audience (who can really hear the words of the Clouds) knows that they won't do anything but existing in the sky. This representation of the Clouds could even be linked to the "ideas" of Plato: yet, why would this be attributed to Socrates? And why is Socrates in other aspects more like the rhetorical sophists? The whole portrayal of this person seems to be ridiculous in this play.
Socrates:
O widely worshipped Clouds, you clearly heard me calling for you.
(to Strepsiades) did you notice how they sang and how their divine thunder rumbled simultaneously?
Strepsiades:
(to the clouds) I revere thee too, highly honoured ones, and I desire to respond to thee
in similar rumblings to thou thunder; so much do I tremble before them and am I afraid of them.
And if it is granted, I will fart now already, and if it is not, I still need to fart.
Socrates:
Don't mock them nor act similarly to those damn comedians
but keep quite like a decent human being;
for a large thong of gods is on the move and starts to sing again.
Advertisement for Athens
This segment (the anti-strophe) focuses more on what the Clouds see, so we move from the subject to the object of the gaze. And of course, the Clouds are watching (similar to the audience) what is happening on the stage, in "Athens." While Aristophanes is on the subject of Athens, it cannot do any harm to praise the city where your play is being judged: in other words, advertising.
Chorus:
Rain-bringing girls,
let us go to the shining land of Pallas, where we will see
the lovely country of Kekrops, full of brave men,
where there exists reverence for religious rites one cannot speak off, so
the house of the initiated (the temple at Eleusis) is on display during
the holy festivals,
and there are gifts to the celestial gods,
and high-roofed temples and statues,
and the most sacred procession of blessed people
and well-crowned sacrifices and festivities of the gods
in the various seasons,
and in the early coming spring, there is the Bacchic glorious feast
and competitions of the melodious choruses
and the loud-sounding music of pipes.
What do the clouds say?
They say who they are, where they are coming from, what they are doing, and what they see happening in Athens. Nothing too interesting seems to happen but for the portrayal of Socrates (who stays a mystery man).
 |
| The oil painting "Cloud Study" made by Lionel Constable <more details> |
Comments
Post a Comment