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Lysistrata and Other Plays
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Lysistrata and Other Plays (edit title/settings)

by Aristophanes (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Writing at the time of political and social crisis in Athens Aristophanes was an eloquent yet bawdy challenger to the demagogue and the sophist. The Achanians is a plea for peace set against the background of the long war with Sparta. In Lysistrata a band of women tap into the awesome power of... read more

Summary edit see section history

Summary of Lysistrata By Adele Streissguth Lysistrata revolves around women not giving men what they want...."sex" so they can stop participating in wars. To be more specific, a woman named Lysistrata comes up with the interesting idea-women should not have sex with the men who are fighting.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Summary of Lysistrata By Adele Streissguth Lysistrata revolves around women not giving men what they want...."sex" so they can stop participating in wars. To be more specific, a woman named Lysistrata comes up with the interesting idea-women should not have sex with the men who are fighting. She suggests this to the women of Greece. She wants the Peloponnesian War to end.She also has another idea, one for older women of Athens to take over Akropolis. When the women arrive, Lysistrata explains the idea and makes them swear an oath that they will not have sex with their husbands until they sign a treaty of peace. They sacrifice a bottle of wine to the Gods to prove their oath is true. Another important part of the play is that there are two choruses-a chorus of men and a chorus of women. The men start off first by coming on stage and carry wood to the entrance of Akropolis. They want to smoke the women out of Akropolis. The chorus of women arrive with the jugs of water to put out the men's fires. The chorus of women wins and even go as far as to pour water on the men. The Commissioner comes to the scene and is surprised that the women are victorious. He demands that policemen arrest Lysistrata and the rest of the women but the policemen end up losing and running away. The Commissioner takes the time to tell the men that they have been too kind to the women. The Commissioner and Lysistrata get into an argument about the war. Lysistrata explains how difficult war has been for the women because they had to give up their sons and husbands to the war. She also gives a tip on how the City of Anthens should be run and that it is hard for women to find a husband today. In then, in a hilarious scene, the women dress The Commissioner up as a woman! Afterwards, the effects of the sex strike take...well, effect! The men are becoming desperate for sex. Kinesias rushes towards Lysistrata at the entrance of Akropolis. Kinesias has an erection and really wants a wife. Myrrhine, his wife, refuses to have sex with him until peace exists. Kinesias begins to explain how much he loves her and how their child needs her right now and goes on and on. Myrrhine doesn't even listen but once Kinesias finishes, she starts to go fetch items from the city that they can use to make love. Kinesias says he will only think of peace between of Athens and Sparta but Myrrhine never returns. A Spartan Herald arrives on the scene, also with an erection. He pleas for a treaty, clearly desperate. The men meet up in Akropolis to discuss the treaty, all suffering from erections. Lysistrata appears with her naked handmaid Peace. The men are fully distracted by Peace but Lysistrata takes the time to lecture them on how she thinks peace should be held around Greece. She says that Athens and Sparta are part of the same heritage and they owe debts to each other and therefor should not be fighting. The Spartan and Athenian leaders choose land rights that will end the war. It's over! Lysistrata gives the women back to the men and they dance and party while singing a song in unison.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Lysistrata: Athenian woman who is tired of the men of Athens being at war all the time and tired of when they come the only thing they want is sex. She gathers ALL the women of Greece to change the treatment of women. She is their leader.
  • Kleonike: First to show up at the meeting that Lysistrata calls. Very feminine.
  • Myrrhine: Lysistrata's right hand woman. Plays a key role in proving the women's point.
  • Lampito: Lead Spartan woman. Leads the Spartan women in the women's plan of "revenge". Typically portrayed as an American southern "hick".
  • Ismenia: Beautiful Boitian girl.
  • Policewoman: Add a description of this character.
  • Koryphaios of Men: Leader of the men's chorus and rather grumpy.
  • Chorus of Old Men: Try to keep the women in line in Greece while the young bucks are out fighting for the country.
  • Koryphaios if Women: A witty lead of the female chorus.
  • Commissioner of Public Safety: Head of security in Athens but cannot handle the women on his own. Gets in an argument with Lysistrata about the stereotypes of women, peace of the nations, and the future of Athens. It takes the commissioner a long time to figure out Lysistrata's logic.
  • Four Policemen: These men are constantly humiliated by the women and eventually driven away.
  • Kinesias: Myrrhine's husband and a soldier in the war.
  • Peace: Lysistrata's handmaid.
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First Sentence edit see section history

Lysistrata: Women! Invite them to a Bacchanalia, or a Pan-analia or an Aphrodite-analia, they come running, tambourines in hand, but now there's no one to be seen. Wait, there's one, my neighbor Kleonike. Hello, my friend.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Aristophanes (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

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Page Count: 25

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PA3875
  • Dewey: 882.01

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Uncoupling

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