Note 286 — Women in Greek Comedy

In Tragedy, of course, the faithful and loving wife was not so entirely unknown. The Athenian might accept an Alcestis, who lived in prehistoric and heroic times, though even here his natural tendency was to jeer (cp. Aristoph. Equit. 1251); but, imagine such a character in Comedy, which was taken from real contemporary life? The idea was preposterous.