Lysistrata

                                                                   Clowns of Lysistrata 

Last class, we talked about the idea that this play is banned because it illustrates women taking initiative and participating in government. While this is true, I also noticed during the second half of Lysistrata that women are also making a fool out of men and making them look incredibly weak. I believe this is another “threat” that causes the play to be banned. The men in this play are becoming more ridiculous and laughable as the play continues. I especially saw this in Act Two, Scene Three in the interaction between Kinesias and Myrrhine. Kinesias’ foolishness is at an all time high as Myrrhine continues to tempt him. 

Myrrhine argues with her husband Kinesias and he claims that he wants her to come home. The reasons he explains for wanting his wife back are not in compliment to her but are things that he is missing from his life. Kinesias believes that “life has gotten harder” and that the house is “cold and empty” and his food “has no taste anymore”(61). Kinesias wants Myrrhine to come home because he is unable to survive without her. Myrrhine agrees to lie with Kinesias but she continues to make him look foolish as she keeps leaving to retrieve something. She runs to get a mattress but Kinesias says, “A mattress? Who cares?” (67). Then just as Myrrine is about to take off her dress she claims that Kinesias needs a pillow. He replies, “I don’t care! I don’t care!” (67). This whole time Myrrhine is teasing Kinesias but to make it seem like she is not Myrrhine goes to get some scented perfume and says, “Can’t fool me, you big tease. I’ll go get the perfume” (69). Myrrhine makes Kinesias out to be a fool by teasing him and claiming that he is the one teasing her. Myrrhine goes even further in the ultimate tribute to the women of Athens when she asks him to sign the peace treaty. He refuses and she slips out of his arms and runs away. 

This play can be thought of as controversial because it makes men look like clowns. It is a powerful approach by Aristophanes and without it there also would not be as much humor. Some critics may also claim that this play is targeted at a specific gender. But, this play is a satire and it reveals much about the sexual and unequal dynamic between men and women. 

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