The present chapter introduces a groundbreaking interpretative approach to Aristophanes' prosopographic satire, based on a psychological model recently developed by two Italian psychologists, Francesca D'Errico and Isabella Poggi (NB... more
The present chapter introduces a groundbreaking interpretative approach to Aristophanes' prosopographic satire, based on a psychological model recently developed by two Italian psychologists, Francesca D'Errico and Isabella Poggi (NB throughout the chapter "satire" is referred to as "parody" for reasons of consistency with the terminology adopted by D'Errico and Poggi). The psychological model establishes two distinct types of parody, surface and deep; surface parody is defined as "simple distortion of reality by exaggeration", whereas deep parody consists of a "re-categorization" of the target. In this chapter the twofold psychological pattern is retrospectively applied - mutatis mutandis - to Aristophanic satire/parody through analysis of certain Aristophanic passages (e.g. targeting Cleon, Socrates, Pericles, etc.). The role of the Athenian audience and a number of audience-related variables are also co-examined (e.g. socioeconomic composition, politicization level, erudition, subconscious theatrical training), in an attempt to evaluate the ultimate essence, purpose, and impact of Aristophanes' parody.
