Definition: "Aristophanes" in Greek means "puppeteer." It refers to a play in which an audience watches as an actor tricks or deceives them through puppets. Definition: In a play, an Aristophanian puppeteer acts as a mastermind manipulating the audience's emotions with gestures and movements. They use a set of tools such as a mask, rope, strings, and mirrors to create elaborate and sometimes misleading situations that divert attention away from the real issues. The aim is for the audience to feel helpless or confused about what really happened, often by using subtle manipulations that deceive their perception into believing otherwise. This technique is central to the philosophical movement known as Aristotelianism during the 4th century BCE in ancient Greece. In ancient Greek tragedy, there were various ways an actor could portray these manipulative characters: a "siren" (a female character who speaks about love or beauty) with a mask; a "prickly fox" (a cunning and deceitful character); a "spider" (a trickster-like character that deceives others); and even "the clown" (an unrepentant fool).

Aristophanes