Question

Aristophanes, in an attempt to satirize the war, imagines a world in which the women of Athens are able to solve one of society’s most complex problems— war— with their strategic abilities and extraordinary courage. What are the arguments the women make for granting them authority instead of men? Are they persuasive arguments? Why or why not? Aside from eros, what other forms of love are expressed in the play?

Answer 1

Lysistrata, the representative of the women, argued that women and children are always at the receiving end whenever war ensues. She told the magistrate that men abandon their wives and children during war to pursue an unnecessary military career, which makes their wives and children to suffer severely.

They are persuasive arguments because she was able to convince the magistrate who in turn condemned the men for not adequately monitoring their wives.

Another type of love that was expressed in the play was Mania-obsessive love. This is evident from the fact that the women found it difficult to control themselves and had to go back to their men for sex.

Pragma- enduring love, was also another type of love expressed in the play because the men were very determined to continue sexual affairs with their wives despite continual denial.