Relative Femininity: Aristophanes’ Characterization of Euripides in Thesmophoriazusae

Katie Lamberto (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazusae is often interpreted as a harsh critique of Euripides. The entire plot revolves around the women of Athens seeking to kill the tragedian for his misogyny, and many of the jokes seem to portray him in a negative way. There are many indications within the play, however, that contradict this traditional reading. For instance, although threatening female Euripidean characters like Medea and Phaedra are mentioned in Thesmophoriazusae, more attention is given to the extensive parodies of Helen and Andromeda, Euripidean plays which feature virtuous women. Furthermore, the character of Euripides twice appears as a male hero – once as Helen’s husband and equal, and once as the would-be savior of a damsel in distress – and he has no problem disguising himself as a woman to fool the Scythian Guard.

This paper examines how the total transformation of the Relative, in costume and character, may affect how Euripides’ own role is interpreted. I argue that the Relative’s transformation into a woman occurs in distinct stages which are represented by the other male characters in the play. He begins as an uncouth figure that will later be paralleled by the Scythian Guard. Euripides, who guides the Relative through his entire transformation, soon convinces him to be made up as a woman. The resulting superficial disguise is analogous to Agathon’s drag outfit.

After the Relative is captured by the women, he uses Euripidean plays as inspiration for his escape. With each successive parody, the Relative is forced to rely more heavily on Euripides and is cast as an ever more helpless character. He begins by trying to save himself through imitating the hero Telephus. By the final parody, he is cued by Euripides to take on the passive role of Andromeda. Through the parodies, the Relative slowly becomes less like the superficial Agathon and more like Euripides, who, I suggest, is portrayed by Aristophanes as a master playwright with a deep understanding of women.