What is lysistrata about

But every time it looks like they are about to have sex, Myrrhine pretends that something is missing: a bed, a mattress, a pillow, some perfume. At the very last minute, she runs back into the Acropolis, leaving Cinesias bewildered, and still painfully aroused. Cinesias and the Men's Chorus swap horror stories about their sexual frustration.

Then, a Herald shows up from Sparta. He, too, is sporting a visible erection. Realizing that the women's sex-strike is an international conspiracy, Cinesias sends the Herald back to Sparta with a message of peace. Cinesias runs off to bear the same message to the Athenian officials. Hearing this, the Women's Leader makes friends with the Men's Leader, and the two Choruses merge into one. The Spartan and Athenian Delegates show up.

Lysistrata arrives to help broker the peace, and calls on a friend for help: the goddess of Reconciliation, who takes the form of a naked girl. Lysistrata lectures the two sides on the foolishness of warring against each other; they agree with her—mainly because they both lust after Reconciliation.

Eventually, a deal is reached, and the two sides go off to have a party. While the men are fully distracted by Peace, Lysistrata lectures them on the need for reconciliation between the states of Greece. Lysistrata reasons that because both Athens and Sparta are of a common heritage and because they have previously helped one another and owe a debt to one another, the two sides should not be fighting.

Using Peace as a map of Greece, the Spartan and Athenian leaders decide land rights that will end the war. After both sides agree, Lysistrata gives the women back to the men and a great celebration ensues. Ace your assignments with our guide to Lysistrata! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Summary Full Book Summary. Previous section Myrrhine's Seduction—Play's End.

Test your knowledge Take the Summary Quick Quiz. Popular pages: Lysistrata. Take a Study Break. Somewhere between interpreting the play as a big joke and analysing it as a serious argument for a shift in gender power relations, we find the true meaning of Lysistrata. Reblogged this on Manolis. Great overview and analysis of this wonderful comedy. As for the female parts actually being played by men, I wonder to what extent the ancient Greek audience would have considered that comedic, or was it just conventional for women not to be actors and not all that funny.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address. Interesting Literature is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. She succeeds where the politicians and generals have failed. She not only brings about a genuine peace, but also paves the way for reconciliation, reminding the Athenians how much common heritage they share with the Spartans.

Inevitably, it is the bawdy element of the play which has made it Aristophanes' best known, and it has been adapted again and again to offer a light-hearted appeal for men to abandon their violent conflicts. Subjects: Literature — Literary studies - plays and playwrights. Aristophanes c. View all related items in Oxford Reference ». Search for: 'Lysistrata' in Oxford Reference ». All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice.

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