Aristophanes was a comedy poet in the fourth century B. Aristophanes' usual style was to be too satirical, and suggesting the outlandish. The most absurd and humorous of Aristophanes' comedies are those in which the main characters, the heroes of the story, are women. Smart women.
One of the most famous of Aristophanes' comedies depicting powerfully effectual women is the Lysistrata, named after the female lead character of the play. It portrays Athenian Lysistrata and the women of Athens teaming up with the women of Sparta to force their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War. To make the men agree to a peace treaty, the women seized the Acropolis, where Athens' financial reserves are kept, and prevented the men from squandering them further on the war. They then beat back an attack on their position by the old men who have remained in Athens while the younger men are out on campaign. When their husbands return from battle, the women refuse to have sex with them. This sex strike, which is portrayed in a series of exaggerated and clamorous sexual insinuation, finally convinces the men of Athens and Sparta to agree to a peace treaty. .
The Lysistrata shows women acting bravely and even aggressively against men who seem resolved on ruining the city by prolonging a pointless war and excessively expending reserves stored in the Acropolis. This in turn added to the destruction of their family life by staying away from home for long stretches while on military campaign. The men would come home when they could, sexually relieve themselves, and then leave again to continue a senseless war.
The women challenged the masculine role model to preserve the traditional way of life of the community. When the women become challenged themselves, they took on the masculine characteristics and attitudes and defeat the men physically, mentally but most of all strategically. Proving that neither side benefits from it, just that one side loses more than the other side.
Knowing their physical limitations, the women decide on a plan of attack that is lead by Lysistrata. Lysistrata is the mastermind and director of the action in Lysistrata. ... Lysistrata proved to be an influential leader to the women. ... Lysistrata is very different from her female counterparts. ... The Chorus in Lysistrata is split into two, the Chorus of Men and the Chorus of Women. ...
Knowing their physical limitations, the women decide on a plan of attack that is lead by Lysistrata. Lysistrata is the mastermind and director of the action in Lysistrata. ... Lysistrata proved to be an influential leader to the women. ... Lysistrata is very different from her female counterparts. ... The Chorus in Lysistrata is split into two, the Chorus of Men and the Chorus of Women. ...
Lysistrata Lysistrata is a play written in 411 BC by Aristophanes, who was a satirist. ... Lysistrata is probably the oldest comedy which has retained a place in modern theatre. ... In Lysistrata, Lysistrata defies the system of the oikos as represented as sex and attacks the privilege of war. ... Therefore, Lysistrata is defined as a woman who enters the world of the man and conquers it. ... Lysistrata is a reactionary, she wishes to preserve the way things were. ...
After reading Lysistrata, it is very obvious that it is a "Brillo pad comedy" aimed at reforming Greek society. ... It is Lysistrata who is the only one with any resolution and she is summoned by the chorus with the words, "All hail, O manliest woman of all!" ... Aristophanes was using the women and using the dialog of Lysistrata to get his point across. ... Lysistrata's speeches such as the one from line 650 to 670 give Aristophanes" specific instructions to the Greek leaders. ... Perhaps even more enlightening are Lysistrata's words regarding Greeks and Spartans on lines 1267-12...
This form was used in the play, Lysistrata, to illustrate this point. ... Lysistrata taking this role as a commander is not characteristic of women during this era. ... The story of Lysistrata contains other elements of comedy other than the pessimistic view. ... The reader gets to understand that Lysistrata is powerful, intelligent, and dedicated but never a reality of why Lysistrata is that way? ... The story of Lysistrata is an excellent example of Greek comedy for the reasons listed. ...
Written during the war, a time of chaos and crisis in Greece, Aristophanes" play Lysistrata was an attempt to lighten the atmosphere of the country, and provide humor for the people. ... In the opening scene, when Lysistrata is explaining her plan to the other women, Aristophanes shows the way females use their femininity and sexuality to gain power. They are going to "sit around all prettied up in flowers and scandalous saffron-yellow gowns, groomed- I do not think that Lysistrata was, in any way, a threat to the hierarchy of the government because at that time, females were looked upon...
Lysistrata By Aristophanes We can force our husbands to negotiate Peace, Ladies, by exercising steadfast Self Control- By Total Abstinence.......Total Abstinence from SEX! ... This group of girls, lead by Lysistrata, decided to not allow their husbands to have sex with them until they came home for good and stopped the war. ... Lysistrata held a meeting to give the women their plans. ... Eventually they are persuaded and they agree with Lysistrata. ... Lysistrata is a strong woman, a very strong woman. ...
The reader cannot help but smile when Lysistrata demands the women repeat the oath: "To husband or lover I"ll not open my thighs though he bring proof-of-love of monstrous size" (Lysistrata 260-264). ... "Lysistrata," demonstrates the depth of loathing for the war that was prevalent throughout Athens after the ruinous campaign to Sicily. ... Lysistrata's scheme to force the men of Greece to the peace table could never have been successful. ... Lysistrata does not cry for the loss of "women's way" but instead encourages the other women to use, literally, their sex as a weapon. ... ...