Diotima: An Improved Female Paradigm Against Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazusae

Abstract

In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates praises Eros through Diotima, thus introducing a female voice into a quintessentially male institution. In doing so, I argue, he appropriates Agathon’s theory of mimesis as found in Aristophanes’ Thesmophoriazusae. By reporting Diotima’s words, not only does Socrates reply to Agathon’s speech in the Symposium; he also puts forth an improved female paradigm against the backdrop of Aristophanes’ Agathon and, more in general, Thesmophoriazusae. In the appendix, I will consider Christian Poggioni’s solo performance of the Symposium, which emphasises precisely the connection between Plato and Aristophanes. Among other things, this informs his decision to use a theatrical mask only when delivering Diotima’s reported words. In sum, my own reading and Poggioni’s performance seem to complement and reinforce each other.