Lysistrata (Aristophanes)

This section explores the play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, focusing on: the structure, setting, staging, characters, themes and the historical and cultural context of the play. Lysistrata is a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, first performed in 411 BCE. Set during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the play follows the character Lysistrata, an Athenian woman who persuades the women of Greece to withhold sex from their husbands in order to force them to negotiate peace. The play is known for its bold and humorous approach to gender roles, political commentary, and social satire.

The central themes of the play revolve around the absurdity of war, the power dynamics between men and women, and the potential for female solidarity to bring about political change. Despite its comedic tone, Lysistrata offers a pointed critique of the male-dominated society of ancient Greece and highlights the agency of women in the face of patriarchal oppression.

Historical and Cultural Context

• The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE): The play is set against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War, a prolonged conflict between Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies. By 411 BCE, Athens was embroiled in a seemingly endless war, causing widespread suffering. Aristophanes wrote Lysistrata during this period of war, and the play can be seen as a response to the ongoing destruction and a call for peace.
• The Role of Women in Ancient Greece: In the context of ancient Athens, women had limited rights and were largely confined to domestic spheres. Their roles were primarily as wives and mothers, responsible for managing the household and maintaining family life. Aristophanes' Lysistrata challenges these gender norms by depicting women as active political agents capable of influencing the course of events. The play plays with the idea of reversing traditional gender roles, using humour to highlight the power and influence women could exert through solidarity and direct action.
• Old Comedy in Ancient Greek Theatre: Lysistrata is an example of the genre known as "Old Comedy," a form of theatre popular in Athens during the 5th century BCE. Old Comedy often featured exaggerated characters, satirical themes, and farcical situations, addressing political issues and societal norms. It was characterised by its use of humour and irreverence, as well as its direct engagement with the audience through parody, slapstick, and sometimes obscene language or actions.
• Aristophanes as a Political Satirist: Aristophanes was known for his sharp political satire. Through plays like Lysistrata, he criticised various aspects of Athenian society, including war, political corruption, and the behaviour of leaders. In Lysistrata, he critiques the futility of war and the incompetence of male leaders, while also using the play to explore issues of gender and power dynamics.

Structure

• Five Acts: Lysistrata is structured in five acts, which are typical of Aristophanes’ plays. Each act serves to build upon the central conflict, with the tension between the sexes escalating as the women begin to implement their sex strike and the men attempt to regain control.
• Prologue: The prologue sets the stage for the action. Lysistrata, the central character, introduces the plot and explains the women’s plan to the audience. This initial setup establishes the premise of the play and introduces the comedic tension.
• Scenes of Escalating Conflict: The majority of the play unfolds through a series of comedic scenes where the women, led by Lysistrata, try to hold their ground against the men’s increasing frustration and desperation. The men’s attempts to break the women’s resolve form a recurring motif throughout the play, with physical comedy and slapstick humour employed to heighten the absurdity of the situation.
• Choral Interludes: The Chorus in Lysistrata plays an important role in advancing the themes of the play. The Chorus of Women and the Chorus of Men comment on the action, often through song and dance, and help to build the comedic atmosphere. The Chorus’ interactions also serve to underline the social divisions between men and women.
• Resolution: The play culminates in a resolution, where the men, exhausted and demoralised, agree to negotiate peace with their enemies in exchange for the women ending their strike. This conclusion highlights the play’s message about the power of collective action and the potential for women to effect change in a male-dominated society.

Setting

• The City of Athens: The play is set in Athens, which was at the time a centre of political, intellectual, and military activity. The action largely takes place in a public space, such as the Acropolis, where the women gather to take control of the treasury and hold their strike. This public setting contrasts with the private, domestic spaces that women were typically confined to in ancient Athens, highlighting the role reversal that the play presents.
• The Acropolis: The Acropolis is a significant setting in the play, as it represents the heart of Athenian political and economic power. The women’s decision to occupy the Acropolis, where the state’s treasury is stored, is symbolic of their attempt to take control of the city's power and force the men to negotiate peace. It is a strategic and powerful location, underscoring the women’s active role in the political sphere.
• Symbolism of Domestic Space and Public Space: The juxtaposition of domestic space (traditionally associated with women) and public space (dominated by men) is key to the play. Lysistrata and the women subvert traditional gender roles by moving from the private realm of the home to the public, political realm of the city. This shift symbolises the challenge to male-dominated authority and the possibility of a different kind of social organisation.

Characters

• Lysistrata: The central protagonist of the play, Lysistrata is an intelligent, determined, and charismatic woman who comes up with the idea of a sex strike to force the men to end the war. Her name, meaning "disbander of armies," highlights her role in the play as a political leader. Lysistrata is pragmatic and clever, using humour and strategy to mobilise the women and manipulate the men into submitting to peace.
• The Chorus of Women: The Chorus of Women represents the collective strength of the female characters. Each of these women plays a role in supporting Lysistrata’s plan, although they initially have doubts and fears about its execution. They are active participants in the action and contribute to the play’s comic elements, such as their efforts to maintain the sex strike and their interactions with the male chorus.
• The Chorus of Men: The Chorus of Men contrasts with the women, embodying the male characters’ resistance to the strike and their desperation to regain control. The men are often portrayed as foolish, over-sexed, and easily manipulated by the women. The Chorus of Men is often involved in slapstick physical comedy, particularly when trying to break the women’s resolve.
• Kinesias: A key male character, Kinesias is the husband of one of the women participating in the strike. He is used by Aristophanes to showcase the sexual frustration of the men and the comic absurdity of the situation. His desperate attempt to persuade his wife to end the strike provides both humour and social commentary.
• Myrrhine: One of the women who supports Lysistrata’s plan, Myrrhine’s character is central to the comedy, particularly in her interactions with her husband Kinesias. She teases him and frustrates his sexual desires, illustrating the power of the women in the play.
• Other Characters: The play features a range of secondary characters, such as the male leaders and soldiers, who serve as foils to the women and represent the male-dominated societal order. The interactions between these characters build the tension and highlight the differences between the sexes.

Themes

• War and Peace: The central theme of Lysistrata is the futility and destructiveness of war. Aristophanes critiques the Peloponnesian War, showing the human cost of prolonged conflict. The play suggests that the war is an absurd and avoidable situation, and it uses the women’s sex strike as a vehicle for advocating peace.
• Gender and Power: Lysistrata explores gender dynamics and the social roles of men and women in ancient Greece. The women’s act of withholding sex challenges traditional gender roles and exposes the vulnerability of the male characters. The play suggests that women can exert power not through physical strength or violence, but through solidarity and the control of intimate relations.
• Sex and Desire: The theme of sex is central to the plot of Lysistrata. The play uses sexual abstinence as a comic tool but also as a means of demonstrating power. The tension between the men’s desires and the women’s resolve provides much of the humour, but it also carries a serious message about the power dynamics in relationships and society.
• Solidarity and Collective Action: The women in the play are able to achieve their goal through unity and collective action. Their shared commitment to the strike demonstrates the power of women working together to achieve political and social change, challenging the prevailing belief that women were passive or powerless.
• Satire and Political Critique: Lysistrata is a political satire that critiques not only the ongoing war but also the broader societal structures that perpetuate it. Aristophanes uses humour, absurdity, and caricature to comment on the failings of Athenian leadership and the male-dominated society.

Staging and Performance

• Physical Comedy and Farce: The play would have relied heavily on physical comedy and farce, with exaggerated gestures, slapstick humour, and sexual innuendo. The actors playing the women and men would have used exaggerated expressions and physical movement to convey the absurdity of the sex strike and the men's frustration.
• Choral Dance and Song: The Chorus of Women and the Chorus of Men would perform choreographed dances and songs, which would add to the spectacle of the play. The choruses often comment on the action and provide moral or social commentary through these interludes.
• Costumes and Masks: The characters would likely have worn costumes typical of Greek theatre, with masks used to exaggerate emotions and personalities. The use of costumes, particularly the women's clothing, could serve to emphasise the contrast between their traditional roles as homemakers and their new roles as political agents.
• Audience Interaction: As with many Old Comedy plays, Lysistrata would have engaged directly with the audience, using humour, topical references, and the occasional breaking of the fourth wall to create a participatory atmosphere.

Summary

Lysistrata remains one of the most famous and influential works of ancient Greek theatre, notable for its bold approach to gender politics and its critique of war. Aristophanes blends comedy with political commentary, using humour to address serious issues such as the destructive nature of war, the potential for female empowerment, and the power of collective action. Through its clever use of satire, physical comedy, and subversive themes, Lysistrata continues to resonate as a work that challenges social norms and reflects on the potential for change.