"Clouds" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In Aristophanes' play "Clouds," the characters play various roles that contribute to the comedic and satirical elements of the story. The main characters are Strepsiades, Pheidippides, Socrates, and the Clouds themselves. Each character represents a different aspect of ancient Greek society and philosophy.

Character Descriptions

1. Strepsiades: Strepsiades is the protagonist of the play. He is a middle-aged Athenian citizen who finds himself in financial trouble due to his excessive spending. Strepsiades is portrayed as a cunning and desperate character, willing to do whatever it takes to escape his debts.
2. Pheidippides: Pheidippides is Strepsiades' son, a young man who is portrayed as being heavily influenced by the new intellectual ideas of Socrates and the Sophists. Pheidippides undergoes a transformation throughout the play, transitioning from a spoiled and disrespectful youth to a more disciplined individual.
3. Socrates: Socrates is portrayed as a caricature of the real-life philosopher. In "Clouds," he runs a "thinkery," where he teaches his students various forms of sophistry and rhetorical trickery. Socrates is depicted as a lofty and arrogant individual, using his intellectual superiority to manipulate others.
4. The Clouds: The Clouds are personified deities in the play who represent the power of imagination, illusion, and deceit. They serve as a metaphor for the intellectual ideas that Strepsiades and Pheidippides are drawn to. The Clouds influence Pheidippides' transformation and become a central aspect of the comedic elements in the story.

Character Traits

1. Strepsiades: Strepsiades is cunning, desperate, and resourceful. He is willing to explore unconventional means to solve his financial problems, including enrolling in Socrates' thinkery. Initially, he is shown as ignorant and gullible but eventually gains a level of cunning and wit.
2. Pheidippides: Pheidippides starts as a spoiled and disrespectful youth who is easily swayed by new ideas. He is portrayed as rebellious and indulgent, but as the play progresses, he becomes more disciplined and adept at using rhetoric and argumentation.
3. Socrates: Socrates is portrayed as arrogant, manipulative, and intellectually superior. He uses his philosophical teachings to exploit others and promote his own agenda. Socrates embodies the skepticism and intellectual elitism that Aristophanes criticizes in the play.
4. The Clouds: The Clouds are whimsical, deceptive, and mischievous. They represent the power of illusion and imagination, leading characters astray and manipulating their beliefs and actions.

Character Background

1. Strepsiades: Strepsiades is an Athenian citizen who finds himself in financial trouble due to his excessive spending. He is desperate to find a way to escape his debts and maintain his social status.
2. Pheidippides: Pheidippides is Strepsiades' son, who has been raised in a privileged and indulgent environment. He is influenced by the new intellectual ideas of Socrates and the Sophists, which leads to a conflict with his father's traditional values.
3. Socrates: Socrates is a well-known philosopher in ancient Athens who runs a thinkery, where he teaches students various forms of sophistry and rhetoric. He is notorious for his unconventional beliefs and methods.
4. The Clouds: The Clouds are ancient Greek deities associated with the power of imagination and creativity. In the play, they serve as a representation of the intellectual ideas that captivate Strepsiades and Pheidippides.

Character Arcs

1. Strepsiades: Strepsiades undergoes a transformation from a desperate and ignorant individual to a cunning and resourceful character. Initially, he seeks knowledge from Socrates to escape his debts but ends up using his newfound wisdom to manipulate others.
2. Pheidippides: Pheidippides starts as a rebellious and indulgent youth who becomes enamored with the intellectual ideas taught by Socrates. However, as the play progresses, he begins to question these ideas and ultimately rejects them, embracing a more disciplined and traditional way of life.
3. Socrates: Socrates remains relatively unchanged throughout the play, maintaining his arrogant and manipulative nature until the end. He continues to exploit others and promote his own agenda, ultimately facing ridicule and criticism.

Relationships

1. Strepsiades and Pheidippides: The relationship between Strepsiades and Pheidippides is a central theme in the play. Strepsiades is initially concerned about his son's rebellious nature and the impact of Socrates' teachings on him. However, as Pheidippides becomes more influenced by Socrates, their relationship becomes strained, leading to a conflict of values.
2. Strepsiades and Socrates: Strepsiades seeks knowledge from Socrates to escape his debts but is ultimately manipulated and taken advantage of. Their relationship represents the clash between traditional values and intellectual elitism.
3. Pheidippides and Socrates: Pheidippides idolizes Socrates and his teachings initially, leading to a strained relationship with his father. However, as Pheidippides begins to question these ideas, their relationship becomes more complex.
4. The Clouds and Strepsiades/Pheidippides: The Clouds play a significant role in the play as they lead Strepsiades and Pheidippides into embracing intellectual ideas and challenging traditional values. Their relationship represents the power of imagination and the consequences of pursuing deceptive ideologies.

In conclusion, "Clouds" by Aristophanes features a cast of characters that represent different aspects of ancient Greek society and philosophy. Strepsiades, Pheidippides, Socrates, and the Clouds each play a distinct role in the comedic and satirical elements of the play. Through their interactions and character arcs, Aristophanes explores the clash between traditional values and intellectual elitism, highlighting the consequences of pursuing deceptive ideologies.