The comedy of Menander: convention, variation and originality

Abstract

Menander (342 - 293 BC) was the greatest dramatist of Greek New Comedy, which has influenced the course of Western drama both in its realism and romanticism. And yet until a large part of his comedies came to light in papyri discovered in Egypt in 1908, his influence was exercised almost entirely through his Latin adapters, Plautus and Terence. This book offers an appreciation of Menander's work based on his own writings. It explores the many sides of Menander's dramatic art, emphasizing the versatality and originality of his plays, achieved both within and sometimes in the face of a well-established comic tradition and the conservative expectations of his audience. Using detailed analysis of plot, and numerous scenes and passages, the author considers topics such as convention and variation, the function of the chorus, repetition versus surprise, Menander's treatment of human character and emotions, the realistic and divine dimensions of his dramas, as well as his use of the laws and social customs of his age and place. Menander's familiarity with his audiences, their tastes, outlook and their demands from a good comedy, are explored through the study of his versatile, dramatic techniques.