Just like many members of the Athenian politicians, Euripides "started showing off to all the people down here, you know, cut-throats, highwaymen, murderers, burglars – right rough lot they are – and of course he soon had them all twisted round his little finger." (p164). With the power of 'the mob' behind him Euripides believes he is better than Aeschylus, who currently sits in the tragedian chair. When Dionysus decides to take Aeschylus instead of Euripides there is a message that Aristophanes is trying to send to the audience. He is trying to tell them that there is no honour or moral in the new way that politicians are gaining their power, the demagogues, but it can be returned by returning to the old ways of the Athenian democracy if there is any chance that it can be saved. (p.188). Aristophanes' also made comment on current issues that sparked debate among the Greek people. Aristophanes made comment on the battle of Arginusae after which slaves that took part were given "Plataean rights" (p5). Aristophanes mentions this most prominently when Charon, the oarsman of the bottomless lake, says, in comment to Xanthias trying hoping on his boat, "I don't take slaves. Not unless they fought in the sea-battle" (p140). Aristophanes is petitioning the argument that is Xanthias not worthy of being treated as anyone else because he didn't fight for Athens. He is raiding the question that just because they fought for Athens doesn't mean they should get the rights of true Athenians.
The time that Aristophanes produced most of his works was of course during the Peloponnesian wars. A time that seemed to have a very hostile political climate, a particular politician, Cleon, was at the height of his power in Athens a man who was said to have the power of the mob behind him. Throughout Aristophanes' plays The Frogs and The Wasps he often eludes to his belief of what Athens' political system is becoming and regularly displays current problems based around Cleon in his plays, even going as far as naming characters closely after him.
