The Clouds

Strepsiades comes back on stage. He is on his way to the Thinkery to see if Pheidippides has succeeded in his studies, noting that it is almost the end of the month, the time when creditors traditionally collect their debts in Athenian society. Socrates greets him and confirms that Pheidippides has indeed become a formidable orator. Strepsiades is thrilled to see that Pheidippides has taken on the pale complexion of an intellectual. Satisfied by Pheidippides’s newfound skill at manipulating logic, Strepsiades leads him home to celebrate.

As Strepsiades and Pheidippides enter their house, Strepsiades’s first creditor arrives to request payment. Strepsiades meets him at the door, using arguments he learned from Socrates and Pheidippides to turn him away. The second creditor arrives, and Strepsiades chases him away much as he did the first creditor. The Clouds, observing from nearby, sing a brief ode. They note that Strepsiades is “in love with evil” (1303), and that he will soon regret his actions.

Screaming can promptly be heard coming from inside the house offstage. Strepsiades emerges, and explains, in shock, that Pheidippides has hit him. Pheidippides follows Strepsiades outside and says that he was justified in hitting his father, arguing that he beat his father to teach him.