The Wasps Summary

The Wasps is another attack on Cleon and satire of the judicial culture of Athens. The play begins with two slaves, Sosias and Xanthias keeping watch over their master's house. Their master has ordered the two slaves to keep watch on his father's house and not to let the old man out because of his affliction. He is addicted to some activity, which the slaves ask the audience to guess about. After going through the usual list of gambling, drinking, women, etc. the slaves tell the audience that the old man is addicted to the court. He spends all of his time watching lawyers give statements and voting in juries. His son has tried to keep him from the court that he loves so much, but nothing has worked. Their master, Bdelycleon (Cleon hater) emerges and asks the slaves if they...