Lysistrata is a play written in 411 BC by Aristophanes, who was a satirist. At that time in Greek history, the city-states were constantly warring with one another. Lysistrata is probably the oldest comedy which has retained a place in modern theatre. It primarily deals with two themes, war and the power of sexuality. .
At the beginning of the play, Lysistrata (an invented name meaning, She Who Puts an End to War) has summoned the women of Athens to meet her at the foot of Acropolis. She says that she has spent long, sleepless nights agonizing over the solution to the wars. She tells Kalonike, "Only we women can save Greece!" Therefore, she puts before them the easy invitation that they must never lie again with their husbands until the war is ended. At first, they shudder and withdraw and refuse the idea of no sex until, with the help of the women from Sparta and Thebes, they are impelled to agree. The women take an oath and swear to one another that they will have nothing to do with their husbands until the wars cease. The women seize the Acropolis from which Athens is funding the war. After days of sexually depriving their men in order to bring peace to there communities, they defeat back in an attack from the old men who had remained in Athens while the younger men are on their crusade. When their husbands return from battle, the women reject sex and stand guard at Acropolis. The sex strike, portrayed in risqué episodes, finally pressure the men of Athens and Sparta to consent to a peace treaty.
In Lysistrata, Lysistrata defies the system of the oikos as represented as sex and attacks the privilege of war. Because of the sex strike, the male world is forced to end the war. Therefore, Lysistrata is defined as a woman who enters the world of the man and conquers it. The Lysistrata presents women acting bravely and aggressively against men who seem entangled in destroying their family life with their absence and the prolonging of a pointless war.
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. ...
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. ...
Lysistrata Aristophanes was a comedy poet in the fourth century B.C. ... Lysistrata was schooled in the traditional fashion, by learning from older men. ... Like the heroines of tragedy, Lysistrata wants to put things back to the way they were. ... His catalyst was Lysistrata, feminist champion over war through peace. ... In the opening scenes of the play Lysistrata says "I'm furious with women and womankind. ...
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. ... ...
