Transcript Lysistrata
Lysistrata I. Short introduction of Greek comedy: A. By the fifth century B.C. both tragedy and comedy were regularly produced at the winter festivals of the god Dionysus in Athens. B. Comedy employed some elements like tragedy, but its tone was burlesque and parodic . Lysistrata C. The only comic poet of fifth century whose work has survived is Aristophanes. D. In his comedies, the institutions and personalities of his time are caricatured and criticized in a combination of poetry and obscenity, of farce and wit. Lysistrata II. About Aristophanes: A. He was born sometime in the middle of fifth century and died in the next, around 385 B.C. B. The bulk of his extant work dates from the years of the Peloponnesian War C. The war, in fact, is one of his comic targets Lysistrata D. His famous works: The Acharnians, Peace, Clouds, Birds. F. These plays are all very funny, with plenty of sexual wit. G. But coarse humor and exquisite wit combine with lyric poetry of a high quality and comic plots of startling audacity to produce a mixture unlike anything that went before or has come after it. Outline of the Peloponnesian War The First ten Years (431-421) End with Sparta’s surrender Peace of Nicias 421-414 (BCE) Last Ten-Years of War Disaster in Sicily 415-413 Alcybiades’ plan to return 404: Athens surrenders Sicilian Expedition The Athenians respond to a ‘request for help’ issued by the city of Segesta in Sicily at war with the city of Selinunt. This is an opportunity to gain influence in Sicily; they decide to attack (or ‘help’) the Sicilians. Sicily Athenians at first defeat the Syracusans Spartans help Syracuse and declare war on Athens in 413 In the same year the Athenian siege of Syracuse ends as their fleet is trapped in the harbor of this city and must surrender. 411 BCE Aristophanes fantasizes about of an honorable way of bringing war to an end. Lysistrata was first performed in Athens in probably during the Lenaia. Lysistrata III. About Lysistrata: A. It is the outstanding play among the Aristophenanic comedies. B. This play is about the female sex-strike against war. C. Aristophanes through Lysistrata claims that “war shall be the concern of Women!” PLOT Women go on strike and occupy the Acropolis Old men try to defeat them, with no success, but as the two choruses quarrel, the restoration of Love is achieved. The play is far from nihilistic or anarchic; Aristophanes’ hedonism is constructive. The play ends with the restoration of love and marriage rather than with an orgy of blind sexual gratification; it is a plea for Panhellenic peace; Eros is joined by the civilizing power of Sophia. Lysistrata IV. Characters: A. Lysistrata - Lysistrata is an Athenian woman who is sick and tired of war and the treatment of women in Athens. Lysistrata gathers the women of Sparta and Athens together to solve these social ills and finds success and power in her quest. Lysistrata is the least feminine of the women from either Athens or Sparta, and her masculinity helps her gain respect among the men. Lysistrata B. Kleonike - Kleonike is the next-door neighbor of Lysistrata and is the first to show up at Lysistrata's meeting of women. Kleonike embraces her feminine side and is delighted that Lysistrata's scheme for peace . C. Myrrhine - Myrrhine would be the second strongest woman in Lysistrata. Myrrhine is able to seduce her husband, Kinesias, but she refuses sex with him just at the last minute. Lysistrata D. Lampito - Lampito is representative of Spartan women. Lampito is a large, well-built woman who brings the Spartan women into Lysistrata's plan. Lysistrata E. Chorus of Old Men - The Chorus of Old Men live up to their title; the chorus is made up of twelve old men who teeter around Athens attempting to keep the women in line. Although, unsuccessful in their civic duties, the Chorus of Old Men strike up some fantastical misogynistic melodies and are a generally comedic element of the play. Lysistrata F. Chorus of Old Women - The Chorus of Old Women seizes and then protects the Akropolis from the Chorus of Old Men. The Chorus of Old Women, although frail, fights to the last with the men and finds victory in the end. Lysistrata G. Peace - Lysistrata's handmaid. Peace is the unclothed beauty of a woman whom Lysistrata displays and uses during her final plea for peace between Athens and Sparta. Terribly aroused and uncomfortable, the men quickly discuss the terms of a truce, all the while staring at Peace's body. Lysistrata H. Commissioner of Public Safety - The Commissioner of Public Safety is apparently the head of security and law in Athens, but is completely overwhelmed by the women and ends up being dressed as a woman himself. Lysistrata has a lengthy conversation with the Commissioner about the future of Athens and peace in the region, but the Commissioner is very slow to understand her logic. Lysistrata I. Kinesias - The needy, desperate clown that Myrrhine calls her husband. Kinesias is the first man to be affected by the sex strike and comes to the Akropolis, fully inflamed. Lysistrata V. Summary: Lysistrata has planned a meeting between all of the women of Greece to discuss the plan to end the Peloponnesian War. As Lysistrata waits for the women of Sparta, Thebes, and other areas to meet her she curses the weakness of women. Lysistrata plans to ask the women to refuse sex with their husbands until a treaty for peace has been signed. Lysistrata has also made plans with the older women of Athens (the Chorus of Old Women) to seize the Akropolis later that day. Lysistrata The women from the various regions finally assemble and Lysistrata convinces them to swear an oath that they will withhold sex from their husbands until both sides sign a treaty of peace. As the women sacrifice a bottle of wine to the Gods in celebration of their oath, they hear the sounds of the older women taking the Akropolis, the fortress that houses the treasury of Athens. Lysistrata In Lysistrata there are two choruses—the Chorus of Old Men and the Chorus of Old Women. The Chorus of Men is first to appear on stage carrying wood and fire to the gates of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Men is an old and bedraggled bunch of men who have great difficulty with the wood and the great earthen pots of fire they carry. Lysistrata The men plan to smoke the women out of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Old Women also approaches the Akropolis, carrying jugs of water to put out the men's fires. The Chorus of Old Women is victorious in the contest between the choruses and triumphantly pours the jugs of water over the heads of the men. Lysistrata The Commissioner, an appointed magistrate, comes to the Akropolis seeking funds for the naval ships. The Commissioner is surprised to find the women at the Akropolis and orders his policemen to arrest Lysistrata and the other women. In a humorous battle, that involves little physical contact, the policemen are scared off. Lysistrata The Commissioner takes the opportunity to tell the men of Athens that they have been too generous and allowed too much freedom with the women of the city. As the policemen run off, the Commissioner and Lysistrata are left to argue about the Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata Lysistrata argues that the War is a concern for women especially and she adds her two cents as to how the city should be run, drawing an elaborate analogy to show that Athens should be structured as a woman would spin wool. Lysistrata Lysistrata tells the Commissioner that war is a concern of women because women have sacrificed greatly for it—women have given their husbands and their sons to the effort. Lysistrata adds that it is now difficult for a woman to find a husband. The women mockingly dress the Commissioner as a woman. Lysistrata The next day, or perhaps some considerable time afterwards, the sex-strike devised at the beginning of the text, begins to take effect on the men. Lysistrata spots Kinesias, husband of Myrrhine, approaching the Akropolis. Lysistrata Kinesias is desperate for his wife. Myrrhine refuses to have intercourse with Kinesias until peace exists between Athens and Sparta. Kinesias tells Myrrhine that her child needs her, he needs her and he loves her and Myrrhine pretends to listen to his frustrated pleas. Lysistrata Myrrhine hints that she might make love to Kinesias, but delays by going repeatedly into the Akropolis to fetch things to make the couple comfortable. As Kinesias promises to only think about a treaty of peace for Athens and Sparta, Myrrhine disappears into the Akropolis and leaves her husband in great pain. Lysistrata A Spartan Herald approaches the Akropolis. The Spartan describes the desperate situation of his countrymen and pleads for a treaty. Delegations from both states then meet at the Akropolis to discuss peace. Lysistrata comes out of the Akropolis with her naked handmaid, Peace. Lysistrata 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. Lysistrata 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. The play ends with a song sung in unison by the Chorus of Old Men and the Chorus of Old Women while everyone dances.