How Does Aristophanes Use Language In Lysistrata

"Woman is the most shameless beast of all the beasts that be" (Aristophanes). This is a direct correlation of how a woman was thought of in Ancient Greece. In its simplest terms, the Lysistrata is a tale that centers around an Athenian woman named Lysistrata and her comrades who have taken control of the Acropolis in Athens. They are protesting against the endless wars that men are fighting and refuse their husbands sex unless they cease their battles. This revolutionary due to the views of women at the time and how little dominance women had. The woman faced a lot of tyranny in order to weep the benefit of peace. This play by Aristophanes is a comedy and exaggerated in order to show the power of sexual desires that Lysistrata manipulates,
and how they can affect a nation. The use of language in this play may over exaggerate the power of women at the time.
In Ancient Greece, it was more than okay to strike a woman especially if she was your wife. Arisophanes gives these women more credibility then what is real. Though Lysistrata is a powerful and a leader, by being a woman she would be killed for the disrespect she expressed. "I laughed at them. Neither threats nor flames shall force our doors; they shall open only on the conditions I have named' (Aristophanes 14). This shows how much power that Lysistrata had over the men and women of Athens. At this time, if men didn't get sexual satisfaction fro their wives then there would be prostitutes to fulfill their needs. Yet in this play, Aristophanes puts the power in Lysistrata as she rallies all the women and money of Athens. Lysistrata, using her smarts to manipulate the troops, takes control of Athens Acropolis and nation through the mens desire for money and
sex. More satire and exaggeration become apparent when the commissioner and police officers confront Lysitrata. The men are forcibly taken over by the women, through the use of pots and pans as weapons, and the women stay in control. Aristophanes makes this into a humorous play having the women dress the commissioner in women's clothing. The humorous fight turned into a serious talk about politics, Aristophanes expresses himself through Lysistrata. Aristophanes has a dislike for politicians as he states, "Characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner"(Dutch). Politicains are the ones who start wars, so Aristophanes shows that the people making war decisions can be out smarted by a woman. Aristophanes hate for politicians is emphasized in this play, that is why he shows how easily it is for woman to gain control and manipulate of the best politicians in Athens. During the woman's sex-strike, Lysistrata gave specific directions in order to look very lustful.
Lysistrata was the director and the head of the sex-strike, she convinced Myrrhine to seduce her husband. Her direct orders is what created the climax of satire in the play. Myrrhine teases her husband beyond belief and by the end of her seduction she leaves him. Aristophanes uses humor in this scene to show the power of seduction. The sexual desires of a man can make some one crazy a lot like this scene. "Yes you’re loyal but to what, my sister? You’re loyal to the war what bleeds us white, that ruins Attica and ruins Greece, that maims our husbands and destroys our city. Do you doubt I’m loyal, Myrrhina, loyal to peace and to the good of Athens"(Aristophanes). This once again is a quote by Lysistrata scheming in order to manipulate the men. She changed the nation and caused an end to the Peloponnesian
War. Through humor, Aristophane allows the reader learn that the power and sex and woman manipulation can have adverse affects on a nation. Aristophane voices humor by implementing situations that favor the women over the man, like the teasing situation. Though exaggeration is apparent in this play, it still gives a great representation of the manipulating woman, that strives to achieve a change in the war. Though the diction and language would not be tolerated in an Ancient Greek world, for a woman cannot talk down to a man. The next time a woman is around, never underestimate her.