The Frogs a moral discourse

 

 Is The Frogs a moral discourse or not?-Discuss.

 

Ans. For all practical purposes The Frogs may be called a moral discourse. Aristophanes has emphasized the function of a poet. It is not found in any other play of Aristophanes. If we do not understand the political and social background of the contemporary life, we shall not be able to comprehend the full significance of the songs of chorus. The extreme democrats had turned down the offer of peace from Sparta. Athens was literally bleeding while as a result of prolonged and futile war. The gold and the silver of the temples were turned into coinages. The only man who could deliver the Athenians was Alcibiades. But he remained in voluntary exile. He lost all his faith in Athenian democracy. It is an irony of fate that this true patriot was falsely implicated and charged with irreverence to religion. He became a political victim and was deprived of his legitimate authority. This was his reward for saving Athens from the inevitable civil war in a critical moment of history. All these thoughts were constantly haunting the mind of Aristophanes. The welfare of Athens was his supreme concern. It was a practical approach to the well being of the country and the people. It was a clarion call given by Aristophanes to his countrymen. He explored truth in the form of serving the moral purpose. It is not only a moral discourse, but finding out the truth and working hard for the well-being of the country.