Discuss the extent to which a relationship(s) between classical

characters changes and develops in positive and / or negative

ways over time.

Discuss the extent to which the relationship between Bdelycleon and philocleon
changed and developed in a positive and / or negative way over time.

In Aristophanes Wasps; the father son relationship between Bdelycleon (son) and Philocleon
(father) develops in a positive way over the course of play. Due to the reversal in their roles
in their relationship, Bdelycleon acts like a father figure for Philocleon and aids him through
life in Athens. Hence, why Bdelycleon goes to an extent to try to mend his relationship with
his father by acting as the kyrios to build their relationship as father and son. Aristophanes,
conveys this with a blend of manipulation, satire, and political commentary.

Bdelycleon goes to an extent of acting like the kyrios (head of the household) in order to
cure his fathers obsession with going to court/trials. In a normal oikos (household) the father
in this can Philocleon is considered the kyrios while the Bdelycleon should act like the son.
However, in Wasp roles are revered as Philocleon acts like the son and Bdelycleon acts like
the father. We see examples of this as Bdelycleon locks Philocleon in the house for his own
safety, calms down Philocloeons tantrums and takes responsibility for the oikos. All because
Philocleon ‘is what we call a tralophile’. This has caused a negative impact on the father-son
relationship between Philocleon and Bdelycleon due to the influence the demagagous and
the obsession of the law courts. This obsession has caused the damage in their oikos in
which Aristophanes is representing how the damage in their oikos is the representation of
the damage of Athenian life/court life. Hence, why Bdelycleon acts to bring together the
oikos mend their relationship, meaning mending Athens. Hence, why Philocleon is
considered a trialophile. Therefore, Bdelycleon aims to cure Philocleon of his trialophilia
becuase it is imposing a threat to their relationship. He has tried to cure Philocleon by talking
to him and “all the treatments for madness” such as ritual washing and purification rites. He
has also take Philocleon to the priests of Bacchus and the Temple of Asclepius. It has
gottent to the point where Bdelycleon “cant cope with this diseases of his” and resorts to
desperate measures of locking Philocleon up to keep him away from jury service. This
shows the vulnerability of their relationship and how Bdelycleon has to use force and
deception of claiming Philocleon has a disease to try to change the preception of Philocleon
in order for their relationship to become a positive change. The audience, would view their
relationship to be negative and unnormal because of the extent Bdelycleon has to go to cure
his dads disease and to form a normal oikos. This is becuase as Bdelycleon takes desperate
measures to lock Philocleon up the jurors come to take Philocleon to do his jury duty in
which Philocleon in desperation does anything to go to duty. Shows how as Bdelycleon tries
to repair his relationship with his father, Philocleon however will try to break his relationship
with his son for the sake of jury. Through the changes in Bdelycleon and Philocleons
relationship Aristophanes want to critisize that the Athenian legal system abuses the welfare
of an oikos, as oikos is a significant in Athenian society a problem/damage to an oikos
indicates problems in Athens.

As Bdelycleon wanted a positive change towards their relationship he resorts to a debate to

prove to his father of the mistreatment of his jury job. Philocleon states that Jurors hold
supreme power in Athens, with his argument being have power over others, flattery,
influence on other Athenian citizens and pay. With Bdelycleon counteracting that and stating
that Jurors are slaves/lackeys of the demagogues. In which he proves this by stating that
“Jurors pay is 10% less than the state income”, the unfair treatment and corruption,
untrustworthiness and false promises of demagogues. With the chorus as the judge, stating
“we are happy to state you have won the debate, and converted us all to your view”. With
Philocleon being very upset and falling to his knees to a wail and Bdelycleon consoling him.
This once again showed a negative change to their relationship, this is because there is no
reconcile between their oikos, no reconciliation between an oikos means for a negative
impact on their relationship as it symbolises the damage in Athens. Through Philocleon
being unconvinced Aristophanes shows how Athenians are not able to come to terms that
they are obsessed with the law courts and the control over demogogous, it shows how even
the wasps who can be easily annoying and unconvinced can agree that the jury and law
court is ruining Oikos relationships but Philocleon cannot, which further negaivly impacts
their relationship. However, one positive change that came from this argument was
Philocleaons exposure to the reality of the manipulation of the judicial system, he realises
how although he considers to ‘have power’ he states ‘But that means our pay doesnt even
amount to 10% of the national income.” Understanding how hes being blinded by the law
courts and how its negatively impacting his relationship with Bdelycleon
“whats come over me? I feel unusual. An eerie numbness has spread over my head. I cant
hold up my sword any more, Ive gone all limp”

A turning point which changed Bdelycleon and Philocleans and developed a stronger oikos
was when Bdelycleon formed a mock trial at home for Philocleon. This shows Bdelycleons
willingness to develop a positive relationship with Philocleon. At the trial of the dog a
prosecution initiated by the dog of Cydathenauem (Cleon), against Labes of Aexone
(Laches), on the ground that the said Labes did wilfully and feloniously wrong and injure one
sicilian cheese (bribed from sicily) by eating it all himself (talking bribes and keeping them to
himself ie. not sharing with Cleon). Hence why although the Dog was guilty of eating the
cheese by the help of Bdelycleon he was acquitted. Although Philocleon was against it but
with the persuasion of Bdelycleon he was able to acquit the dog. In doing so he felt like he
had betrayed his law court jury duty and cried “just tell me this, was he really acquited?”
Arsitophanes critizises the Athenian legal system he does this through satire and comedy by
using a dog as the culprit, the very premise of the trial is absurd, as a dog is being accused
of a crime. This absurdity emphasizes Aristophanes view that the legal system can be used
to address trivial and nonsensical matters, undermining its seriousness and purpose. The
satire of the use of spoons, pots and pans as witnesses shows the corruption of the lack of
seriousness of the legal court system and how Philocleon as the judge wasnt ready to make
a judgement based of only one view. Hence why this changes and develops Philocleon and
Bdelycleons relationship as it strengthens their relationship because now Philocleon trust his
sons words and allows him to take care of him as he questions the validity of the Athenian
legal system.This also a turning point in their relationship because now the oikos of
Bdelycleon and philocleon is amended as Philocleon has been cured.