Lysistrata

LYSISTRATA

Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata” in its satirical sense embraces the audience in sensual delights.  The play, while addressing serious issues of the Peloponnesian War, clearly defines lines between men and women.  Men making demands and women answering such demands was about to change.  “Lysistrata” is the art of passive resistance in verse. Lysistrata practiced passive resistance by fighting against war and male dominance. Lysistrata transcends her place as woman and transforms a society. Lysistrata represents peace as the men present war as each gender is embodied incorrectly.

        The Peloponnesian War was in its twentieth year and the city of Athens had mounted a huge campaign against Sicily. The military campaign left thousands dead or captured by the enemy. The Peloponnesian War left many women uncomfortable in their natural desires for

 their men.  Men they left them for months to fend for themselves and their children.

        Lysistrata’s basic plan is for women to deny intercourse or pleasurable intercourse

with their husbands.  The husbands filled with unquenched thirst for their wives rebelled as only men could do.  Man IV:  We gave them everything they needed;  food, clothing, and a punch in the mouth.  Who’d have thought they’d have barred the doors –all the subversive whores!  Lysistrata and women of Greece throw water on their angry men to cool their sexually charged tempters.  

        Lysistrata carefully allows the men to vent their frustrations. Lysistrata reflects on her life

In addition, lives of all women of  Greece. The widows old and alone, the never married virginal women and see in each her own future.

Lysistrata:  And now, when youth and beauty are still with us and our blood is hot, you take our husbands away, and we sleep alone.  That’s bad enough for us married women.  But I pity the virgins growing old, alone in their beds.

        Lysistrata puts men in the same passive position as women. The warriors are in time brought down on their knees. Kinesis husband of  Myrrhine tries to assert his male dominance by attempting to trick Myrrhine into sexual surrender.  Myrrhine  aware of  her