Lysistrata

Lysistrata 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 women, lysistrata, aristophanes, play, greek, words, without, society, people, way, wars, war, voice, very, using, trying, through, structure, sex, seen, seem, peace, pad, one, obvious, men, make, lysistrata’s, lines, leaders, instructions, ideals, free, feminist, even