Lysistrata

Lysistrata Lysistrata Aristophanes '92 Lysistrata belongs to the class of Old Comedies in Greek theater , and as such relies on many of the common conventions of comedic storytelling of that . A fair number of Old Comedies relied on fairy-tale-esque transformations of the expected and brought upon comedic reversals of roles or the '93clash of opposites '94 for comedic impact . Traditional roles are reversed , customs and institutions stood on their heads . The thematic union of opposites stands today as well-constructed and articulate enough to impact as social commentary the continuing

sociological rifts in modern society

In Lysistrata , the clash of opposites is endemic in the play '92s central theme of war and peace as well as in the most obvious transposition of traditional political power , from the hands of soldiers and generals to the hands of women . Comedic convention in the age of Aristophanes welcomed such obvious role-reversals and tension between opposites the pattern of these devices as recurrent throughout the full canon of Aristophanes '92 plays reveals that he partook of more than a simply conventional viewpoint toward these standard themes . The radical nature of his conclusions still permeates throughout human culture where contemporary schisms between religions , genders , sexual identities , and social classes continues to profoundly impact the every day life of individuals and threatens many societies central functions

Other conventions of the theater , such as the chorus , are enlisted to serve Aristophanes '92 theme of opposites : the chorus in Lysistrata is divided into two '93semi-choruses '94 one comprised of old men one made up of old women and these semi-choruses engage in ribald '93combat '94 until they are at last reconciled in a single singing and dancing unit by the play '92s end . Examination of the Chorus scenes illustrates the basic plan of opposites as employed by Aristophanes and also indicates the belief system of his audience which , long acquainted with the notion of the

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reconciliation of opposites by way of classical philosophy , alchemy , and poetry , expected such a reconciliation , thus enabling them to laugh without restraint at the comedic '93world turned upside down '94

Playing opposites against one another enabled Aristophanes to address otherwise maudlin or sociologically volatile themes , particularly : age and sex without provoking his audience to anger and thus , ostracization of his somewhat radical ideas . In one scene when the chorus of old men begin to angrily take of their clothes , their demonstration in mirrored by the chorus of old women and this posturing evolves to ritualized combat with several kicks and punches being mimed and then .unexpectedly , the old women begin to dress the men with great care

In keeping withe the theme of war and peace , Aristophanes pits a pro-war party of threadbare old men against an anti-war party of gumptious old women . Conventional Athenians would have undoubtedly admired certain misogynistic lines from the chorus of old men "women .an obvious nuisance (266-7 ) and their egocentric visions "my Acropolis , as well as their patriotic (anti-Spartan ) sentiments

Aristophanes...