1/3/07 - New Comedy in Greece: Menander

Old comedy of the 5th century BC
- chorus plays a crucial role, often dominating dramatic action
- complicated structure with different elaborated elements (parabasis, agon, etc.) and a wide range of metrical forms
- 'fantasy plots' often placed in a fantasy world with fantasy characters
- imbedded in the political life of Athens of the 5th century BC, contemporary political concerns, criticism of contemporary politicians, etc.

New comedy for the new world after 323 BC
- disappearance of the chorus
- simple five-act structure, simple metrical form
- 'realism' of the plots and characters taken from the everyday life of the middle- and upper-middle class bourgeoisie and placed within the possible experience of the urban well-t-do audience
- completely apolitical; private and thus universal nature of the porblems confronting the characters.

These changes appeared gradually. Some scholars mention 'middle' comedy, but we know nothing about it.

In 323 BC Alexander the Great died in Babylon. Greece conquered much of Asia under Alexander, so the Greek Empire grew, hence the 'Hellenistic Age': the world was hellenicised. So Athens was not the centre of power any more.

Menander
- ca. 344-291 BC (approx.)
- debut probably in 324
- produced over 100 plays, all of them lost by the 7th century AD
- Menander's Maximus: an old collection of gnomic single lines
- discovery of papyri with the nearly complete text of Dyskolos, produced in 316 BC, as well as substantial fragments from Samia, Epitrepontes, Aspis, Perikeiromene, Sikyonios and Misoumenos.

New comedy contains the opposite irony to Greek tragedy: in tragedy the hero doesn't know that his fate has been sealed, but in comedy the hero may think that he is in a tragic situation but the audience knows this is not the case (paratragedy). The conflicts are resolved peacefully at the end. This world is not ruled by ruthless gods, but by a goddess, Tyche. Chance causes events, not the gods.

The notion of the human being crops up first in new comedy (ánthrôpos). Being 'human' is considered admirable; it has connotations of generosity, tolerance, and more.

Philanthropia - kindness, tolerance, politeness, civility (being nice to humans and enjoying them) and connotations of wealthiness.

Such problems of human nature made the plays universal and popular.

Menander's Samia:

Moschion: "Oh dear! - I turned spectator, for the noise
They made kept me awake. They carried plants
Up to the roof, they danced, they had an all
Night party - spread all through the house! I'm scared
To say what happened next - ashamed perhaps
When there's no need, but still I am ashamed.
The girl got pregnant. Saying that I tell
What happened earlier, too. I didn't deny
I was to blame, but first I went to see
Her mother, I agreed to marry now,
I mean when father's back, I swore an oath.
The baby came quite recently, and I've
Accepted it ..." (43-55)