The Views of Aristophanes There have been many arguments regarding the views and policies of Aristophanes. Some argue that it is almost impossible to determine what serious views Aristophanes might be trying to express through his plays. While many others might argue that the points made in the Parabasis and across the different styles of comics are the key to what Aristophanes thought and believed. With so little evidence from Aristophanes himself, it is difficult to prove a hypothesis one way or the other. While considering the social climate of the time and the main aims of the plays, I will examine Thesmophoriazusae and whether Aristophanes was attempting to make serious points through different styles of humor. In order to determine whether Aristophanes was making a serious argument, it is helpful to examine the background and context in which his plays were written. In Greek theater, the audience was made up entirely of men. the only women being those on stage, and even then only allowed to play silent roles such as slaves. Throughout the play women are a common theme, at the time Thesmophoriazusae was written (411 BC) attitudes towards them were much the same as in many societies. Women were inferior to men in almost every sector of society. They were the property of men. Whether it was their husband or father, they could not vote, could not hold office, and could not own any property. However, in some parts of Athenian society they were considered almost equal to men, religion being a prime example of this. In religious affairs, women were sometimes essential, in burials and civic sacrifice rituals. Contrary to this, Pericles' Law of Citizenship (451 BC) elevated their status to the most valuable possession. The law stated that only an Athenian wife could produce a legitimate male heir. She became the only thing that could perpetuate the husband's family name. It became a constant fear for husbands that their wives would be adulterous and have a child, as the child would grow up and have a legitimate claim to the family property. Women became much more protected by their husbands than they had ever been before. A wife with an Athenian mother and father became very sought after. Of course, this was more of a problem for a rich husband than a poor husband, because they had more to lose. However, because they were unable to pay for domestic help, women whose husbands were poor had greater freedom, because they had to go out and get the things necessary for their family's life..