Which side of Athenian war policy did Aristophanes criticize?

Aristophanes was a vocal opponent of the bellicose statesmen who directed Athenian policy during the Peloponnesian War. Rather than supporting the imperialist and aggressive stance of these leaders, he used his comedies to critique the folly of the conflict and advocate for peace.12

His criticism specifically targeted the pro-war faction in Athens, most notably the politician Cleon, who was a primary champion of the war policy. In his plays, such as Acharnians, Aristophanes depicted the war as a source of suffering for ordinary citizens, contrasting the misery of the conflict with the prosperity and joy of peacetime. Similarly, in his play Peace, he portrayed the God of War as an antagonist who had buried the goddess Peace, reflecting his desire to see the hostilities between Athens and Sparta brought to an end.342