Need some help on a few issues with The Republic and and the relation to Aristiophanies. Socrates repeatedly says that the three waves -
1) Common education of men and women,
2) Women and children held in common, and
3) The idea that philosophers should rule as kings - make him look "ridiculous" and "a fit subject for uproarious laughter."
Discuss Aristophanes plays the Ecclesiazusae and The Cloud as attempts to make Socrates look ridiculous. Do they succeed? On the other hand, does Aristophanes have to change Socrates in order to make fun of Socrates? Are these plays really about Socrates' behavior and thoughts or only a mockery of certain elements of those thoughts taken out of context and tortured to fit Aristophanes' purposes? Why does Aristophanes feel compelled to critique Socrates by ridiculing him?