Impact of the political and social situation on New Greek Comedy

Abstract

The social and political underwent a drastic change when Athens lost its independence when defeated and became a subject state of Macedonia. The paper is an examination of how the above situation affected the creative artists in the field of Drama. On examination it is shown that people like Menander had refused to be denied the right to entertain the public with his dramas. Yet the lack of freedom had made him work mindfully of his limitations. These limitations had come in the form of social and political restraints that were experienced by them at the time. The atmosphere and the minds of the people had undergone a transformation as well. The subject matter, the style of presentation and the impact of the New Comedy on the audience Had paved the way for the poets to introduce a new form of comedy. This unlike the Old Greek Comedy, dealt with the individuals mostly at a domestic level. Each argument is supported by examples from the available texts that have survived the tests of time.