Audience Addresses as a Technique in the Prologues of Aristophanes’ Comedies

This article examines Aristophanes’ use of addressing or mentioning the audience in the prologues of comedies. This technique is found in different parts of comedy but its use in the prologues of comedies has not been properly studied. Aristophanes in the prologue provides important plot information for the audience: the hero’s problem and the plan for its solution. For this purpose, the poet uses four techniques, which differ in form (monologue or dialogue) and addressee (unspoken addressee, another character, spectator). The article shows that addressing the audience or mentioning their presence is a characteristic feature in those cases when the poet presents plot information in the form of a monologue, and two characters equally aware of the dramatic situation are present on the stage. This way of introducing plot information is present in the prologues of four comedies of Aristophanes: The Knights (Eq. 36–39), The Wasps (V. 54–87), Peace (Pax 43–53), and The Birds (Av. 30). The author concludes that Aristophanes uses the address to the audience to get their attention after an entertaining opening scene and to emphasize that soon necessary plot information will be told. In these cases, Aristophanes uses formulas common for expositional monologues in both Old and New Comedy