Underworld Journey: Comparative Study Between Aristophanes' The Frogs and Virgil's Aeneid (Book VI)

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The descent to the underworld is a mytheme of comparative mythology found in a diverse number of religions from around the world, including Christianity. The hero or upper-world deity journeys to the underworld or to the land of the dead and returns, often with a quest-object or a loved one, or with heightened knowledge. The ability to enter the realm of the dead while still alive, and to return, is a proof of the classical hero's exceptional status as more than mortal.

Virgil, the greatest of all Roman poets, modeled his masterpiece, The Aeneid (30-19 BC), on the ancient Greek epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, written by Homer. On the other hand Aristophanes (448-385 BC), Athenian playwright, is considered one of the greatest writers of comedy in literary history. The Frogs is one of his masterpieces. The ingenuity of the plot, incidental extravagances, the fresh and sparkling wit, the delicate literary criticism, the sweet bursts of lyric song, and the unrivalled snatches of parody make Aristophanes' The Frogs the greatest literary satire in any language. The Aeneid is divided into different books. Of them, Book VI is very significant because it gives an account of underworld which is visited and experienced by Aeneas, the Trojan hero after the fall of troy. However, the story of Aristophanes' The Frogs can be related to that of Virgil's The Aeneid (Book VI) regarding journey to the underworld especially regarding theme, characters, places, description of the underworld etc.

The beginning part of these two journeys can be compared. Before starting the journey to the Underworld, Aeneas, the Trojan hero visited Cumaean Sibyl. She in her prophetic vision told Aeneas that very soon he would have fight in a battle in Latium. It was Sibyl who instructed Aeneas to pluck the Golden Bough. Aeneas was escorted by her to Hades through the cave of Avernus. They reached the river Styx, on the one side of which they could see the ghosts of the unburied dead. In The Frogs we see that Dionysus, the patron god of Drama as the hero of the play starts journey to Underworld accompanying with his slave Xanthias. Unsure about the best way to break into the Underworld and ever unsteady in his valor, he devises an ingenious plan. He will put on the disguise of Heracles who in the last and most spectacular of his famous labors forced his way into Hades' realm and stole the watchdog of Hell, the three headed hound Cerberus. Dionysus figures that, if Hades' guards see "Heracles" coming again, they will all run away and let him enter without a fight. However, dressing himself up lion's skin and club complete, as Heracles and accompanied by his slave Xanthias with the baggage, he starts on his perilous journey. If we compare The Frogs with The Aeneid, we see that Dionysus acts as a hero in The Frogs who actually is a god (god of drama) while Aeneas; a human being acts the role of a hero in The Aeneid. The Golden Bough which has a magical effect for rescuing oneself from any danger can be compared to the dress of lion's skin wore by Dionysus.

The main purpose of their underworld journey is to get instruction of building (Aeneid) or saving country (The Frogs) from the dead who were great in their lifetime. We can see that in both journeys there is presence of Charon who is the aged boatman who ferried the souls of the dead across a river separating the world of the living from the world of the dead and brought them to the gates of the underworld. In both pieces protagonists have to request Charon to carry them throughout the river Styx (Aeneid) which is also called the lake Acheron (The Frogs) and the river is same to both journeys though in different names. In Aeneid we can see that Aeneid is suggested about the precondition and procedures of the journey by Helenus. Similarly, Dionysus is suggested by Heracles who is his semi brother.

In both journeys protagonists meets many souls, phantoms, ugly cretures. Cerberus, a monstrous dog is found in both journey. Cerberus, a three-headed, dragon-tailed dog that guards the entrance to the lower world, or Hades. The monster permitted all spirits to enter Hades, but would allow none to leave. Sibyl who gives the guideline and stays with Aeneas as a companion in the journey can be compared to both Heracles (from whom Dionysus gives suggestion before starting journey) and Xanthias. Xanthias is a comic figure who works as a servant of Dionysus. Sibyl is a female prophet who guided the Trojan prince Aeneas through the underworld to visit his father Anchises and her role in the journey was very noteworthy because without her prophecy and assistance.

The experiences Aeneas and Dionysus gathered in their journey to the hell is not same. But in both The Frogs and The Aeneid Hell is described as dark and muddy, ugly and full of dangerous creatures ever seen. Aeneas' experience in the journey is bitterer than Dionysus' experience. In the epic Aeneid the underworld journey performs serious purpose and in the other writing we can find that throughout the comedy seriousness is absent and it is replaced by humor, irony and witty remarks. There can be found many comic incidents throughout the journey made by Dionysus like Dionysus' disguising himself as a slave and Xanthius' disguise as a master which is made because of the fear of Dionysus of Empusa.

We can see that in Aeneid the hero Aeneas acts bravely and remains determined and confident throughout the Journey. On the other hand in The Frogs the hero Dionysus is found coward, self-seeking, carnal, unmanly person and in throughout the journey to the Hades. In Frogs we observe chorus is present throughout the journey and in The Aeneid there is no chorus. We can find that Aeneas is prophesized to establish roman empire and to descend to the Hades to meet his dead father Anchises to get suggestions about what to be done. But in the case of the frogs there is no existence of prophecy about Dionysuss' underworld journey.

A striking difference between the journeys of these two pieces is the difference of the treatment of nature in the description of two journeys. In the Aeneid we can find an elaborate description of the environment and natural scenery of the Hades. For example there is a description of Dis with shadow and light like a wood land in a moonlit night. On the other hand there is no such description in the frogs of the journey made by Dionysus.Another important dissimilarity is that in the description of journey made by Aeneis there is elaborate description of the creatures faced by Aeneas. I Aeneid Charon is described as old man having the vigor of ever young with beard of fiery red color. We can find the presence of song and dance in the journey of Dionysus in the frogs but there is no such item in the journey made by Aeneas in the Aeneid.

Although The Frogs and Aeneid are different type of literary work a number of some similarities between this two pieces regarding journey to the Underworld are noticeable. In The Frogs the situation was very much funny and satirical but in The Aeneid it was serious. Indeed, it is Patriotic zeal which is common similarity in both pieces.

The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder by Marlene Dotterer Is a Spellbinding Voyage Through Time

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The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, by Marlene Dotterer, is an entertaining and fascinating voyage through time and beyond.

In this novel, Ms. Dotterer creates a storyline that uses as its pinnacle one of the most famous incidents in history--the sinking of the RMS Titanic. In fact, the story builds itself up to this event with nice suspense. But if you're thinking, I've already seen the movie, know that this book really isn't about that. It's about people, society, and the choices we make.

Set in Belfast, Ireland, our two main characters are an odd couple: an aging male scientist and a young female college student. Quite inadvertently, the two find themselves suddenly picked up and placed backward in time one hundred years.

This work deals with a dilemma of time-travel that story tellers have tinkered with for ages. The quandary and question to unravel is, what would happen if one were to go back in time with full knowledge of certain events that were to occur, but then attempt to make changes? And this raises more questions. How would one's presence in and of itself affect a timeline that has already happened? Does it create more parallel timelines? This subject has been played out in many ways in movies and books but often with the theme of characters scheming to get rich. For example, if one could go back, one could commit robberies where it was known money or gold would be. One could make a fortune making predictions. The list goes on.

But Ms. Dotterer goes about it differently. The main character attempts to make changes motivated first and foremost by love. As soon as we are thrust back in time, things move very quickly as our characters struggle first just to survive, then later to adjust and fit in. Without spoiling it for the potential reader, one of our characters falls in a love with a well-known figure of that day and time. Unfortunately, this person is doomed to perish with the Titanic. But even with this foreknowledge, the two move forward into marriage and starting a family. One result of this is that many elements of a romance novel come to the surface and are woven into the narrative. The other character, who acts often as a voice of reason in various situations, is motivated by the desire to improve the world and help people.

As the story moves along, we're given many lessons in history and it's apparent that Ms. Dotterer has done her research. What makes this book particularly interesting is how real history is combined with fictitious events and decisions as a result of interjected future knowledge. It really does make a person think.

There is one caveat though. This work is also a social statement against the more rigid societal standards of early nineteenth century Ireland, particularly in terms of religion and certain communal issues. One of our main characters is openly atheist, a standing that is almost criminal in this society at this time. While most readers of a God-fearing nature would probably not be offended, you'll notice the Hollywood-like stereotype of a particularly repugnant character who represents religious fanaticism. This character is not only scheming, manipulative and cruel, he's also a bit of a pervert, not to mention a blatant law-breaker. It's unfortunate that characters who represent conservative religious thinking are often portrayed this way.

Some readers may also find it regrettable that little positive credit is given to the moral compass and good standards that religion provides to early twentieth century Ireland, or any given culture. Statistically, after all, it has been the secular movements that have killed countless more people and have done more damage. It focuses only on the negative, and in those days and for many years to come, there was a lot of negative events surrounding religious differences. Proof positive that even with an attempt at maintaining firm standards of behavior, man's wicked nature comes through. The fight against sexism and for equal privileges--another significant element to this story--is far more understandable.

But the work is balanced. Our atheist and socially liberal main character is eventually accepted and loved by a family she marries into who, while religious in nature, are in no way fanatical. As a whole, they are good people with every good intention. Also, there are other nefarious characters in this story that plot evil, but without any religious motivation guiding them. Our other main character is neither religious nor anti-religion, and may even be agnostic.

All in all, The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder is an enjoyable read with a lot of interesting ideas to ponder. It will definitely get the mind going on the What if? questions. Even if you're not a history buff, I think you'll enjoy this work. It may even get you thinking about the choices you're making now, and how those choices could affect many generations to come.

Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.libatique.com/ or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen: A Review

The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a historical novel set in our darkest hour that packs a punch nation's featuring a slave-turned spy, heroine.

Mary Bowser spends her youth as a house slave in one of the grandest antebellum homes in Richmond. Richmond was "in the north of the south." That meant escape from slavery was possible, but dangerous because of the Fugitive Slave Act; mandating free states to return runaway slaves to the south. A precocious child, Mary grabs any opportunity to expand her knowledge. Visitors to the Richmond house bring a valuable commodity-information. Even so, at age eleven she says, "A slave to the best keep her talents hidden, feigned ignorance being the greatest intelligence in the topsy turvy, the house of bondage."

Outspoken abolitionist, Bet Van Lew, no-nonsense daughter of the deceased slaveholder, encourages Mary to go north to get an education. Mary's forward-thinking mother agrees, noting that Mary has a special calling in life. Mary Bowser takes a train to the free state of Philadelphia a decade before the Civil War begins. After experiencing an unsettling form of prejudice while in Philadelphia, she returns home to be part of a Union spy ring in Richmond. Her courage, resilience, and determination to make a difference are masterfully portrayed. (A) the master of stealth, Mary chooses to do what is right, rather than what is easy.

Author Lois Leveen holds a Ph.D in English from UCLA with a specialty in African American Literature. She came across Mary Bowser's espionage while reading a woman's history book. She gifts us a story about a real woman about whom little is known. The Secrets of Mary Bowser answers these questions:

? Why would anyone leave the North and sacrifice freedom?
? Does Mary choose freedom or her family?
? How did it feel to be educated, but spend her days with people who considered her ignorant?
? Does she have the courage to do what is ethical conduct at the expense of her personal safety?

The book focuses on the urban (as opposed to field) slavery and free black life in Philadelphia. This high intensity historical fiction novel brings to light an important, but yet untold story of slavery. Narrated by Mary, the dialogue rings true to slave culture of the nineteenth century. In a recently researched, the book is full of newspaper Notification Randomizer, the correspondence, the real historical figures, the Underground Railroad stories, and secret codes. This book has the "best seller" written all over it. The Secrets of Mary Bowser is not only fascinating reading, but also historical fiction of the highest caliber.

Harper Collins graciously provided the review copy for my unbiased opinion.

Article originally published by Holly Weiss is a http://www.blogcritics.org/.

Holly Weiss is the author of a historical fiction novel, Crestmont, writer and reviewer of newly-released books. http://www.hollyweiss.com/.

Free reprint of article if entire bio is intact.