Final Thoughts on "Lysistrata"

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the play “Lysistrata”. The play was a more difficult read compared to the other plays, “The House of Bernarda Alba” and “Hedda Gabler”. “Lysistrata” was unlike the other plays as it did not end in a tragedy, which is another reason why I like this play more. Also, the language, including the puns/play on words and metaphors, were humorous and made the play easier to want to read. I also like “Lysistrata” better than the other plays because it was more so about the strength of the women, which were displayed in the themes, presented throughout the play. The other plays were more so about the repression of women, not “the power of a woman”. I did not notice any big comparisons between the plays either. Ultimately, the play was pretty okay and I would recommend it to others who are interested in reading a sexual comedy.

The Puns!?!?

When I started to read “Lysistrata” I knew that the play was supposed to be funny and comical as it full of puns. As I was completely the reading each night I did not think the puns were that funny. Perhaps I was just overlooking them or maybe I really did not understand them. Though I thought the play was pretty good, I do not know why I failed to see why the play was so funny, as it was supposed to a sexual comedy.

"Lysistrata" Themes

For the group oral presentation my group is focusing on the themes found throughout the entire play. Aristophanes uses motifs and symbols to represent the majority of the themes that ultimately represent the portrayal of all the women in the play. Aristophanes focuses on household and domestic articles that represent the women including the cleaning supplies, cloth/fabric/thread, and the spindles. These motifs are embedded “below the surface” and ultimately represent the presence, yet in a sense the lack of, women power in the play “Lysistrata”.

Give in, Women!!

An important question was brought up in class and that as whether or not one thought the women would have eventually given in to the oath if the men would not have put down their weapons and given up in the war. The oath I think eventually the women would have given in, especially because some of them were so hesitant into taking the oath to begin with. But, ultimately it was the women’s choice and decision to take the oath. I think the women took the oath because Lysistrata led and convinced the women to take away all sexual favors from the men, unless they decided to end the war. Therefore I think the women were then determined to stay absent from sex. I think if the women were the ones to have give in they would have lasted a lot longer than the men did, especially considering the fact that the men could not go twenty-four hours without sex.

Importance of Women

I think the significance of the women’s disobedience in the play is important to the plot. The overall plot suggests the women are weaker and of lesser value than they men. The role of the women seems to be overshadowed by the importance and strength of the men fighting this war. This would explain why the women take the oath. I think the women were sick of being looked at merely as objects and having this status quo of being only a housewife within the public sphere and they want to prove to the men they are equal. The women want to tell them to never underestimate their power. This all out battle between the sexes ultimately concludes that abstinence does bring about peace. Yet, this does not explain why some of the women were so hesitant in taking the oath. Also, what was the deal when the three women who were making excuses to go home? I think the women missed the men too much and still felt as though they could defeat the men, but Lysistrata convinces them to go through with it and the victory would be theirs.

With or Without Women

I think one of the most important things in the play are the themes. The themes address some important issues that were not only present during the time of this play in Ancient Greece, but the themes are also relevant in today’s society. One of the themes in the play I liked the most is the proverb “life with women is hell, life without women is hell, too” (96). This theme is very true and obviously present throughout the play and this thought raised another question, and that is to whether or not I thought the men truly loved the women. I think at this point in the play the men have realized that they cannot live without the women , not only sexually as they have become frustrated, but also mentally. A scene that exemplifies this is when Kinesias is begging Myrrhine to come down to him and she hesitates and says, “you don’t need me” (82). Kinesias responds to say “I don’t need you? I’m at the end of my rope!” (82). As the women agree to deny their husbands of all sexual favors until the men stop the war, though the men become dismayed, they do realized the cannot mentally, even emotionally, live without the women and that is why they conclude with a truce as they cannot dispute the truth or logic behind this proverb as stated by Koryphaios of Men.

Kinesias and Myrrhine

I thought one of the most interesting characters in the play was Kinesias, Myrrhine’s husband. Myrrhine fell into the same trap as the other women when she married him. Myrrhine says she loves him, in fact she states, “I’m mad about him!” (81). But Myrrhine knows that he does not love her, but he loves her sex and that is why she did swear an oath. When Kinesias returns to Myrrhine she refuses to go home with him unless he agrees to a truce to stop the war. But, she leads him on to believe she will have sex with him. Like the other men Kinesias is unhappy with the sex strike, but he continuously hints for Myrrhine to have sex with him. Kinesias is like all the other stereotypical men in the play, in the sense that he cannot go twenty-four hours without sex. In the end I thought it was pretty amusing how Myrrhine led him on into believing he was actually going to get some, but runs off in the end, leaving Kinesias even more sexually frustrated.

Lysistrata!

Lysistrata is a very powerful character compared to the other characters in the play. The other women are complete opposites as they do not care or want to be involved in politics once sex is revoked. They are playing the stereotypical and traditional sex-driven roles of women at the time. But, Aristophanes shows both sides of the women roles as Lysistrata breaks from the traditional role of a female and takes a stand against the men as she is sick and tired of having to sexually provide for the men. Lysistrata is opposite of the other women at the time as she has no sexual desire and has chosen to abstain from sex. Lysistrata is stronger than the other women as she does not feel the needs to be handled as an object, only serving the purpose of providing sex for the men. In that sense, I think Lysistrata’s characteristics suggest she is more of a masculine than feminine character.

An Oath

Even though an oath was taken, I do not think all of the women will be able to withstand it. Though it was ultimately the woman’s choice to go along with Lysistrata’s idea and actually take an oath, I doubt all of the women will be able to follow through as some of the women were hesitant in taking the oath of total abstinence form sex to begin with. Though Lysistrata has convinced most of the women to take the oath, I think the women are not sure if abstaining from sex will bring peace any sooner and therefore they do not see all of the logic in taking in oath. Ultimately, the oath is what separates the power between the sexes. I think the women are also too afraid of how the men will respond. Hence, some of the women will crack under the pressure as they are too concerned about pleasing the men. Therefore, I think the men would be able to withstand the oath longer than the women.

Introduction to “Lysistrata”

After reading the introduction to “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes, I am thoroughly interested in beginning this play. The introduction to “Lysistrata” seems to suggests it is the complete opposite of the other plays, “The House of Bernarda Alba” and “Hedda Gabler”, in which these plays were essentially about the repression of woman and ended in tragedy. The introduction stressed the idea and importance that “sex is rarely lost of sight” (9) throughout the play. The introduction also suggests there is vital distinction between love, which is the "bond between a husband and wife" (9), and sex, which I think will be important to keep in mind while reading the play. Ultimately the introduction suggests “Lysistrata” is merely about the connection between the abstinence of sex with the sex strike and war for the seizure of the Akropolis.