12.2 Evolution of comic themes from Old Comedy to Roman Comedy

Comic themes evolved dramatically from Greek to Roman times. Old Greek comedies mocked politicians and society, while New Greek comedy focused on everyday life. Roman comedy adapted Greek plots but added local flavor, emphasizing relatable characters and domestic issues.

Protagonists changed too. Old Greek comedies had larger-than-life heroes, while New Greek and Roman comedies featured everyday people. The chorus's role diminished over time, reflecting changing audience tastes and societal shifts away from political satire towards universal themes.

Evolution of Comic Themes from Greek to Roman Comedy

Themes in Greek vs Roman comedy

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• Greek Old Comedy (5th century BCE) satirized political figures and social institutions through plays like Aristophanes' "The Knights" which mocked prominent Athenian politician Cleon and "The Clouds" which criticized the philosopher Socrates and intellectual trends of the time
• Greek New Comedy (4th century BCE) shifted focus to domestic themes, everyday life situations, and character relationships as seen in Menander's plays "The Grouch" about a misanthropic old man and his family dynamics and "The Arbitration" which explored a conflict between a father and son
• Roman Comedy (3rd-2nd century BCE) adapted plots and characters from Greek New Comedy but emphasized Roman cultural elements, names, and references in plays like Plautus' "The Pot of Gold" about a miser who finds a pot of money and Terence's "The Mother-in-Law" which dealt with family conflicts and marriage issues

Protagonists in classical comedies

• Greek Old Comedy protagonists embodied larger-than-life, heroic figures who represented political or intellectual ideals such as Dionysus, the god of wine and theater, in Aristophanes' "The Frogs" and Strepsiades, a rustic farmer, in "The Clouds"
• Greek New Comedy protagonists were more relatable, everyday characters focused on personal relationships and domestic issues like Knemon, a misanthropic old man, in Menander's "The Grouch" and Charisios, a young husband, in "The Arbitration"
• Roman Comedy protagonists, adapted from Greek New Comedy models, emphasized relatable characters facing common challenges such as Euclio, a poor old man who finds a pot of gold, in Plautus' "The Pot of Gold" and Pamphilus, a young man caught between his wife and mistress, in Terence's "The Mother-in-Law"

Evolution of chorus role

• Greek Old Comedy featured a chorus that played a significant role in the play's action and commentary, often representing the voice of the community or specific groups and engaging in direct dialogue with characters and the audience
• Greek New Comedy diminished the chorus' role, using it primarily for musical interludes between acts and to provide background information rather than as an integral part of the plot and themes
• Roman Comedy virtually eliminated the chorus, replacing it with musical interludes, and focused more on dialogue and character interactions to reflect changing audience tastes and expectations

Societal influence on comic conventions

• Political and social shifts like the decline of Athenian democracy and rise of Macedonian and Roman power influenced the move away from political satire to domestic themes and everyday stories that reflected changing social norms and values
• Audience preferences gravitated towards relatable characters, escapist entertainment, and universal themes with emotional resonance rather than political critique and satire
• Theatrical conventions adapted Greek plays to suit Roman tastes by incorporating Roman cultural elements and emphasizing fast-paced action, witty dialogue, and physical humor