The role of comedy in literature is to challenge preconceptions, satirize stereotypes, and hold a mirror to societal standards in a way that changes the viewpoint of the reader, or, in the case of Lysistrata by Aristophanes, the audience. From its parody of gender roles, to its frequent use of double-entendres and sexual humor, to its sardonic message directed at the culture and politics of Greece, Lysistrata is a cornerstone of modern satire. It also possesses numerous qualities analyzed in Andrew Stott’s book Comedy: The New Critical Idiom. This work details the history of comedy and the influence it has on modern humor. It explains what goes into making comedy work as an art form and analyzes why people find certain elements humorous to begin with. Both pieces give great insight into the use of satire as a way to make a difference in common opinion, as comedy should do.
From the opening scene of Lysistrata, Aristophanes incorporates satire of gender stereotypes into his dialogue and shows a clear distinction between Lysistrata and the other female characters. She attempts to discuss war with her fellow women, a subject matter that their husbands are more accustomed with, and is infuriated by the lack of interest. She states that if an orgy took place for Dionysus, the god of wine and other festivities, the women would go into the streets without a second thought. This relates to Stott’s quoting of Aristotle, “comedy is an imitation of inferior people.” He states, “Comedy
Sophocles’ Theban tragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ordinary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is not sexist.
Satire is a literary manner built on wit and humor with a critical attitude directed to human institutions and humanity. A successful satiric play will show certain truths about society and then try to improve upon them. Satire is meant to be constructive rather than destructive. Aristophanes uses satire in Lysistrata to convey many different themes such as war and peace, the struggles of power and class, and the life and death issues that are seen in war. Satire is successfully used and seen in Lysistrata by stereotyping women in general and then the different classes of women as well. Double entendres are seen throughout the play to help add humor to the play. Sex is
Throughout history, art has been a reflection of society, an indication to culture and a way to analyze historical context. Art is a gateway to understanding how people think, feel, and act in the context the art was created in. Athenian theater remains popular in modern times; it is not only timeless in its message but it can be useful in analyzing the way in which people lived during the time. Oedipus and Lysistrata, both Greek dramas, prove an example of this: they provide a reflection on the views of women at the time. The playwrights, Sophocles and Aristophanes, were both highly popularized at the time, deeply culturally ingrained into society and therefore highly reliable when it comes to cultural observation. The role of women in Ancient Athens was that of subservience and limitation. Respectable women held no job, instead bound housework and childcare. While higher class women often had
As shown, women were considered naturally submissive as in most other old cultures. This is somewhat understandable as women were the ones who bore children and men provided for the family unit. As time progressed, this stereotype was over emphasized into what is portrayed in these plays and poems. Despite this submissive image, Greek women were not considered naïve, but a pleasurable if a bit foolish kind of a creature. In Aristophane?s play, Lysistrata, this concept is amply portrayed. Most of the women are portrayed, as impulsive individuals while men are carnal gluttons. Notwithstanding this facet of their image women could also be wily as Medea and Lysistrata:
The different portrayals of female characters Antigone and Lysistrata illustrate the fundamental nature of the proper Athenian woman. Sophocles' Antigone allows the reader to see that outrage over social injustices does not give women the excuse to rebel against authority, while Aristophanes' Lysistrata reveals that challenging authority in the polis becomes acceptable only when it's faced with destruction through war. Sophocles and Aristophanes use different means to illustrate the same idea; the ideal Athenian woman's ultimate loyalty lies with her polis. This Greek concept of the proper woman seems so vital when considering Athenian society because both a tragedy and comedy revolve around this concept. The differing roles accorded to
There are no female roles in Mankind but there are many in Lysistrata. It is thought that there were no women in the audience during a Greek play and this drastically changes the way the characters of women should be viewed in the play. At first it could seem that Lysistrata is about empowering women but it is a comedy and the men in audience would find it funny that a woman is being portrayed having an opinion an doing things for herself. In the religion of the time women played an integral part because some of the gods were women. This makes it strange that women are not put into a higher place in ancient Greek society.
In the excerpt Lysistrata written by Aristophanes, a flock of women gather in order to listen to Lysistrata’s speech of how to stop the war and bring peace back to Greece. “So very dainty because that the salvation of all Greece is actually in the hands of women” (76). In order for peace to be restored the women must work together. Lysistrata makes them feel useful and powerful by these statements, but she also forms doubt in their minds. “But what can women
This oligarchy, run by four-hundred men, had power over Athens. This power, as so in all governments, serves to distinguish these four-hundred men from the rest of Athens, as if to place them in a higher caste. In this, comedy is essential in reminding the Athenians these four-hundred rulers also want sex and have human needs. Comedy humanizes the oligarchy, making them more understandable and reducing fear and improving understanding amongst the people, reducing political tension. As well, as the oligarchy receives word of comedic works like Lysistrata, they are reminded of their humanity, and so they become more empathetic, less egotistical, and less close-minded as leaders. The political machine, as a result of comedy, runs smoother because every person involved understands each other and is more willing to
Up until this point in the essay, I have talked a lot about how Lysistrata is very innacurate about how Greek women were shown how to behave in Greek society during the classical era. However, this play does have some situations of actual truth to it about how both women were viewed in Greek society and the Greek society as a whole.
Since the beginning of time, women have always been looked down upon mentally. During the time period of The Odyssey and Lysistrata, women were known as less powerful gender. They have never had much say about what goes on around them. Some women were recognized as a sex symbol. In The Odyssey, some women were goddesses that just wanted sex and other women had to stay at home to help raise their kids and do all of the feminine work. Compared to The Odyssey, in Lysistrata, women denied sex against their men to get what they want. In addition, they did not have many political rights and a say so on what goes on in their country. In comparing both of these stories, women show similarities toward each other.
Aristophanes and Agathon were peers in Ancient Greece. Aristophanes was the master of comedy, and Agathon was the master of tragedy. They traveled in the same circles and are present in the same works. In looking through the comic lens at Agathon in Aristophanes’ Women at the Thesmophoria, the reader is presented with a portrayal of an effeminate man with a flair for the dramatic and a queenly attitude. Aristophanes’ Agathon is a comic character to be laughed at, a man that is more female than male. In looking at this view of Agathon, Greek views of homoeroticism are brought up and Agathon’s reputation and character in the world of Ancient Greece is brought into question. How much of
Terence in his plays was attempting to bring the “New Comedy” of Greece to a Roman audience. “Old Comedy” was usually more blatant with sexual humor. The phallus was typically over displayed, with a protagonist obtaining the woman of his desires, with a finale of uninhibited party and celebration. This was not what Terence was introduced to his audience. Although women of “Old Comedy” were a reward. The “New Comedy” was developing women as characters, not just a sexual prize. Erich Segal emphasizes, “Terence has put a few new wrinkles on… traditional figures, often adding touches of originality and realism, creating such novelties as… an honest prostitute.” Yet these were still the stock characters who defined comedy in plays, and did not represent women well.
Aristotle's Poetics: Comedy and Epic and Tragedy comments on the reflection of reality by it's very imitation. As with comedy being an imitation of the inferior and ugly, the role of the epic and tragedy follow the roles of characters of great importance. The idea being that only those of importance are even noticeable in the eyes of the gods, since mankind is relatively insignificant and are nothing more than an amusement to the gods.
Lysistrata is a play written by a man named Aristophanes around 400 B.C.E. in Athens Greece. Aristophanes, a contemporary of the Greek philosopher Socrates, was the last and greatest of the Old Attic comedians. He wrote many plays, however, only eleven of his plays have survived until today. Lysistrata, being one of these plays, is a is an extremely bawdy anti-war fantasy. Aristophanes wrote this play during a time when Athens was undergoing a crisis with its social attitudes. Therefor, this comedy shows sympathy and longing for the return of peace. Lysistrata is all about the women of Athens and Sparta, led by a woman named Lysistrata, coming together and trying to force the men at war against each other to return to peace by
Lysistrata is portrayed as a hero by Aristophanes and just as Antigone had played a social role in politics, so is Lysistrata portrayed. Most ancient Greek writers were people who had established themselves in the society. They were people of class, and when they wrote about women, they mostly wrote about women from their own social class. Women were shown to participate only in the domestic roles of childbearing and that saw many women confined to their houses. They rarely ventured out of the proximity of their domestic dwellings, let alone participate in manly politics. Lysistrata,