RATIONES RERUM 27: Articolo Andrea Marcucci

Descrizione

Rationes Rerum 27

ANDREA MARCUCCI
Σοφῶς ὑποκρίνεσθαι. Polisemia di un’espressione aristofanea (Acarnesi 401; Vespe 53)

This article explores the expression σοφῶς ὑποκρίνεσθαι in Aristophanes, focusing on Acharnians 401 and Wasps 53, where it displays a deliberate polysemy: «explain wisely», «answer learnedly» and «perform skilfully». In the Acharnians, Dikaiopolis praises Euripides’ Slave for his sophisticated, Euripidean responses, in an exchange that blends comic and paratragic effects. In the Wasps, Sosias’ compliment to Xanthias acknowledges at once his skill as a dream-interpreter and his skill as an actor, playing with the expectations of the audience. In both plays the manuscript variants bring out the interpretative difficulties posed by the semantic range of the expression: the article argues for retaining ὑποκρίνεσθαι against ἀποκρίνεσθαι and σοφῶς against σαφῶς. The expression thus links intelligence, dramatic performance and metatheatrical awareness, and highlights Aristophanes’ playful manipulation of theatrical codes.