Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why don't the Clouds just tell Strepsiades that he's doing the wrong thing in the first place? Why make the dude go through all that trouble?
- Is Strepsiades an inherently bad or flawed guy? Or is he just misguided? Does the fact that he's helping his son redeem him at all?
- What's your take on the way Socrates is portrayed? Is he evil? Some people think The Clouds contributed to Socrates's bad reputation and eventual execution—is the portrayal that damning? If so, how?
- What role does Pheidippides play in the production—is he just comic relief? Someone to despise more than Strepsiades? Or is there something else going on with his character? Does he have any redeeming qualities, or is he just a horrible, horrible person?
- There's a lot of toilet talk/humor in this translation of the play. Why do you think that is? What effect does it have?