Women, Power, and War in Lysistrata by Aristophanes

Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata”, a novel written during a period of political and social upheaval has been denoted or attributed with a satirical arrangement as the play is centered upon the contrast or reversal in the roles played between the men and women of Greece alike. This occurred due to a frantic effort and display by the women to bring a complete seizure to the Peloponnesian war that created or brought about a social change in the era of early Greece in the imaginative world of Aristophanes.

 The play after deep analysis is denoted with a strong sense of the political and social dilemma faced by the people of Greece due to the ongoing war between the Athenians and Spartans. Due to this and the level of frustration mixed with the severity of the situation, a young woman in the form of Lysistrata takes it upon herself to organize, formulate, and strategize a decisive plan in the effort of putting a complete stop and end to the pointless war between the Greek men. With the imperative aid of the women of Greece, they undergo a coordinated travail to strike back at the men, not through violence, but through upstaging a revolt against the activities of the disillusioned men.

 This revolt taken up by the woman comes in two rather comedic and dramatic forms. The women through inspiration from their main representative of Lysistrata begin and uphold a complete “sex strike” which was a revolt whereby they engage in total chastity or absence of sexual activities with their spouse. This in turn strikes a devastating blow to the egos of the men who are denied the most important pleasure they derive from their spouse which in turn leads them into desperation. Though this is not the only conclusive part of her plan, Lysistrata alongside the women hold a rather bold and affronted protest in the Acropolis which is a very significant and important citadel upon which the men engage in political affairs and also the source of their treasure. This protest hence is used to cut off all forms of supplies for the men, restricting their ability to continue in their mindless war.

 These actions hold major significance and importance within the play with their own denotations. The “sex strike” called by the women turns the tide of power normally held by the men and turns it into desperation which can symbolize the desperation of Greece who longs for peace as the men long for sex. It also symbolizes a total comedic inversion in the roles of the men and women as it juxtaposes the women typically silent in political affairs and switches it into an upstanding engagement in the precedents of the state. This all draws to the conclusion of early signs of modern feminism through Aristophanes critique of men’s implorable actions as opposed to women’s tranquil efforts.