…but even comedy writers can tell the truth, and the truth that I’ll relate is shocking but it is the truth.

The more I think about it, the more I think The Acharnians is virtually the Greek equivalent of The Forever War.

Both of these fictional works come from authors writing in the political climate of national war, at a point in the war where the people are getting tired of fighting. Just as The Forever War criticizes the Vietnam War through allegorical parody, having those who seek peaceful resolution fare better than those who mindlessly seek war, The Acharnians shows a clever, peace-seeking man doing well, with the war general faring rather badly. In both cases, the war is depicted as unnecessarily prolonged, while a simple communicatory message could stop the atrocious war, which should have ended quite a long time ago.

I didn't really like the blunt message of The Forever War, nor do I really like the anti-war insinuations of The Acharnians. As cultural studies, they both have value, but I can't say I'll ever read either one again.

I found it funny but a lot of the text was lost to me. Hats off to the translators though! very impressive work

The Peloponnesean War was a monstrosity
Which sapped the strength of Hellas - an atrocity;

So one can hardly blame Herr Aristophanes
For viciously attacking the Democracy

Which set Greece on this devastating policy
(This bawdy work is thus a kind of prophecy).