Lysistrata

2 Pages 563 Words

After reading Lysistrata, it is very obvious that it is a “Brillo pad comedy” aimed at reforming Greek society. Aristophanes is not trying to completely topple the existing structure, but he does use Lysistrata to illustrate its flaws, mainly that of the wars it waged. He even provides very explicit instructions on how to “cleanse” the problems of society.
Although Lysistrata may seem to have a feminist overtone, I believe that this was only a way for Aristophanes to voice his complaints without being too revolutionary. The cast of women in the play never really show any feminist ideals. 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!” (Lines 1213-1214) This shows that she is only seen as powerful because she is man-like. The non-feminist structure of the play is amplified by the fickleness of the other women, Lysistrata: “At last it seems that I am no longer capable of keeping them from men. They are deserting me.” (813) The women seem as though they have no minds of there own and look upon there sex as almost worthless in the beginning of the play, Kalonike: “… [depends] on the women? In that case poor Greece has next to nothing to depend on.” (31) Lastly, the play was not meant to be feministic because the women’s only source of power is their sexuality. They must depend on the men to want sex for their plan to work.
Aristophanes was using the women and using the dialog of Lysistrata to get his point across. The Grecian wars were pointless and should be stopped. He was trying to scrub Greek society and leave it free of war. By having the women be the voice of peace in the play, Aristophanes was appealing to people without actually coming out and saying his views. The women were not seen as rational; therefore, they could be more radical in their opinions. It kept Aristophanes free from heat....