Women in Aristophanes

p Women in Aristophanes Women in Aristophanes In general , ancient Greek drama can be considered as evolving from a mythic and religious beginning to a later form which stressed social adn political issues . The transformation of drama and poetry as mediums to express not only mythic and historical themes but contemporary themes that admitted immediate social controversy is shown in the comparison of the depiction of women in the earlier works of Homer and Sophocles with the work of Aristophanes who was both an experimenter and a consciously modern writer in

ancient times

Although Aristophanes was not alone in shaping his vision of drama to include social and political issues "Greek drama was heavily in debt to myth and the heroic Homer , it is never far from vital contemporary issues , and that mix accounts for much of its enduring vitality (Hogan 15 ) his influence was important in redefining the role of women both in drama and in Greek society itself

In the works of Homer , women are objectified and lay a role only to the extent that they embody mythic connotations and give a reason for conflict and competition among the male characters who are always the lead players in Homer 's myth . Because of its mythic preoccupations Homer 's work is not "civic " in nature , but deals with the themes of individuality "Myth tends to emphasize individualism in tragedy man is a political animal , a citizen of a particular social organization that makes demands , expects his loyalty , and asserts paramount claims on his values (Hogan 15 and this distinction is very important in relation to the contrast with Aristophanes ' later works which stress themes of community , political interconnectedness , and social obligation . With these changing themes , of necessity , comes a change in the way women are portrayed

Sophocles evolved themes which grew far more contemporary and "modern than those of Homer , but his depictions of women are still rooted in the mythic objectification of women adn the women characters of his works fail to speak for women 's experience . Womens ' role is seen still as primarily complimentary to men and of an erotic nature "In his (lost Phaedra Sophocles wrote that "even all-powerful Zeus cannot resist love but he yields and willingly gives in to it (Hogan 243 ) so that women are viewed primarily as objects of desire and do not have important social roles or influences to speak of

By contrast to both Homer and Sophocles , Aristophanes is the first Greek author to undertake a story from the point of view of women which is both a social protest and a political critique of society . In his play , Lysistrata , traditional gender 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 the play 's central theme and the most important clash of opposites is that of power being transfered...