View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy Rhetorical Ethics in the Comedy of Aristophanes A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY Sean William Larson IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Advisor: Edward Schiappa May 2014 © Sean William Larson 2014 i Acknowledgments A dissertation draws influence from a myriad of individuals, without whom my analysis and arguments would have been less scholarly, critical, and focused. I am deeply indebted to everyone who has provided instruction or support since I became interested in the mechanics of language and persuasion, from my earliest Latin and Greek classes to the final revisions to the dissertation itself. This project benefited significantly from the efforts and support of my dissertation committee. Ed Schiappa is everything one could ask for in an advisor and more. From the pragmatics of wading into professional academia to the challenges of presenting interdisciplinary research in rhetorical and classical studies, Ed has consistently guided my understanding of the ancient world and how scholars can continue to bring insight into its modern counterpart. From my first course with him on classical rhetoric to the later versions of the dissertation, Richard Graff immediately notices the key issues of an argument and calls attention to how they fit within the current state of scholarship in our field. My analysis and willingness to engage other scholars is a direct result of his efforts. Art Walzer poses the kind of challenging questions that make graduate students blanch, but that ultimately transform them into scholars who can contribute effectively to rhetorical studies. There is no professor I enjoy sparring with more than he! Ron Greene does not research the ancient world, but he is precisely the audience I hope to address in future studies. His focus on the larger issues posed by Aristophanes and what they mean for our understanding of modern rhetoric and ethical citizenship were an invaluable contribution to the project, and a model of how to position and frame future arguments. I would also like to thank faculty and friends who did not serve on my committee for their support leading up to and during the dissertation. Professors Karlyn Kohrs Campbell, Kirt Wilson, and Mary Vavrus provided key guidance as department chair and directors of graduate study. Bea Dehler and Joan Lund were a consistent source of information on policy, keeping the graduate students informed on department changes, and kept my studies funded long enough to span 2 M.A.’s and a Ph.D. Lastly, I would like to thank friends and colleagues who provoked discussion, offered moral support, challenged ideas, and also worked to refine my approach as a scholar. On the rhetorical studies side, I am forever grateful to Kevin Haebeom Vollmers, Tim Behme, Martin Lang, Mariko Izumi, Stacy Fitzpatrick, Peter Gregg, Kristen Swenson, Aric Putnam, and Chani Marchiselli. I must also thank Jim Hamm, Heather Woods, and Christy Marquis for being the definition of collegial as we slogged through the philological trenches. Much gratitude goes out to Jennifer Willis-Rivera, Grace Coggio, Robin Murray, and the other faculty at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls for consistently keeping me balanced between teaching and scholarship. It would be remiss not to mention the outstanding faculty in the department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies, without whom my ability to engage texts in Latin and Greek, along with a corresponding sense of historical context for the ancient world, ii would never have developed fully. In many ways Doug Olson was the classics counterpart to Ed Schiappa, providing candid advice about conference presentations, argument construction, developing a keen eye for textual evidence, and being as skilled a philologist as possible. He was the first to kindle my appreciation for Aristophanes and to show that comedy can be a profound rhetorical force. Doug was a true mentor and educator, whom I have used as the model for leading discussions and constructing assignments in my own courses. Betty Belfiore cultivated an affection not only for ancient philosophy but tragedy as well. My attention to drama as moralizing speech and the ability for narrative arguments to influence audiences is a result of her valued instruction. George Sheets conveyed the importance of text transmission and the weight of intertextuality, demonstrating that texts are deeply connected from one author to another. As the professor of both Greek and Latin composition, my language skills improved markedly with his teaching. Chris Nappa was another challenging presence, cutting to the quick of an argument so that any gaps or weakness would be addressed effectively and quickly. His presence in and out of the classroom was the kind of rare support that few professors can provide, especially when preparing for philological audiences. Steve Smith was a formative influence on my understanding not only on Latin as a language, but also how to teach it effectively. He was often a calming presence during the more intensive points of the semester. Finally I would like to thank the office staff of Barbara Lehnhoff and Victoria Keller, for keeping the department running smoothly, putting out the occasional brushfire, and making sure graduate students such as myself were well funded. It is important to acknowledge the wonderful faculty at Truman State University for setting me along this path many years ago. David Christiansen, Clifton Kreps, Rebecca Harrison, Bridget Thomas, and Alex Tetlak were the bedrock of my introduction to classics. Janet Davis and Kevin Minch then opened my eyes to the worlds of rhetoric and argumentation. This dissertation could not have been written without their friendship and world class instruction. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support throughout the years. My parents, Alex and Martha Larson, encouraged me to pursue a budding interest in language from the humble beginnings of my first Latin classes all the way to the completion of graduate school. I hope they can read this project with pride. Last but certainly not least, Ginny Windels was also one of the more crucial factors in the completion of this dissertation. As wife, confidante, and editor, you are as much the author of this project as I. I hope it lives up to your exacting standards, and am forever grateful for your love, humor, and support. iii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Alex and Martha Larson, for showing me the value of curiosity and pursuing knowledge. iv Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..1 Performance Culture in 5 th c. BCE Athens………………………………………..1 The Politics of Old Comedy………………………………………………………5 The Rhetorical Power of Ridicule………………………………………………..13 Aristophanes as Rhetorical Agent………………………………………………..24 Aristophanes as Stylistic Critic…………………………………………………..29 Aristophanes as Critic of Rhetoric……………………………………………….36 A New Direction: Ethical Arguments in Old Comedy…………………………..47 Old Comedy and Kenneth Burke’s Theory of the Negative……………………..54 Chapter 2 Ethical Considerations of Sophistry in Clouds…………………………………………..72 Introduction………………………………………………………………………73 Old vs. New Education…………………………………………………………..78 The Ethics of Old vs. New Education……………………………………………85 Sophistry in Practice: Pheidippides vs. Strepsiades……………………………...99 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………..109 Chapter 3 Judicial Ethics for Orators and Jurors in Wasps ………………………………………..118 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..119 Delusions of Grandeur in the Ag ōn……………………………………………..131 Philocleon’s Benefits of the Juror Lifestyle……………………………………133 Bdelycleon’s Indictment of Demagogues………………………………………142 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………..151 Chapter 4 Ethical Criticisms of Oratory in Knights ……………………………………………….157 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..158 A Desire to be Shameless: Arguments in the First Ag ōn………………….……163 The Ethics of Inter-Orator Debate……………………………………………...169 Bribery and Political Pandering: Arguments in the Second Ag ōn……………...173 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………..184 v Chapter 5 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………..189 Summary of Evidence and Analysis……………………………………………189 Implications of Comedic Oratory……………………………………………....195 Implications for Future Research……………………………………………….198 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………201 1 Chapter 1 Introduction ô despoinai, deomai toinun humôn touti panu micron, tôn Hellênôn einai me legein hekaton stadiousin ariston . O Mistresses, I ask of you this very small favor, Of all the Greeks that I be the best in speaking by one hundred miles. -Clouds, 429-430 Understanding the role of the comic playwright Aristophanes in the history of persuasive speech and performance is no small task. Rhetoric scholars and classicists often consider his plays testimonial documents for the origins and practice of oratory in the late 5 th century BCE in Athens; Clouds in particular is regularly treated as contemporary evidence that the sophists were peddlers of logical snake-oil, teaching unscrupulous students how to take advantage of their fellow citizens purely for selfish ends. This point of emphasis reduces Aristophanes to the role of historical witness without giving him credit for his own acts of social commentary and intellectual contributions to the polis . Other attention is