Member-only story

Lysistrata and Other Plays: A Timeless Masterpiece of Comedy and Social Commentary

Eric Hayes

·12.2k Followers· Follow

Published in Lysistrata And Other Plays (Penguin Classics)

3 min read · 3 weeks before

278 View Claps

31 Respond

Save

Listen

Aristophanes' Lysistrata is one of the most famous and influential plays in Western literature. Written in 411 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, it tells the story of a group of women who go on a sex strike to force their husbands to end the war. The play is a hilarious and thought-provoking satire on war, gender, and power.

Lysistrata and Other Plays (Penguin Classics)

by Aristophanes

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	988 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	250 pages

Lysistrata And Other Plays By Aristophanes Lysistrata And Other Plays (Penguin Classics)

The Play

Lysistrata opens with a group of women from Athens and Sparta meeting in secret to discuss the war. They are all tired of the fighting and the suffering it has caused. Lysistrata, a clever and resourceful woman, proposes that they go on a sex strike until their husbands agree to end the war.

The women are initially hesitant, but they eventually agree to Lysistrata's plan. They go home and refuse to have sex with their husbands, no matter how much they beg. The men are at first furious, but they soon realize that they cannot do without their wives. They eventually agree to Lysistrata's demands and the war is ended.

Themes

Lysistrata is a complex and multi-layered play that explores a wide range of themes. These include:

* War: The play is a powerful indictment of war and its devastating effects on society. Aristophanes shows how war destroys families, communities, and even entire civilizations. * Gender: The play also explores the role of gender in society. Aristophanes challenges traditional gender roles and suggests that women are just as capable as men of leading and making decisions. * Peace: Ultimately, Lysistrata is a play about peace. It shows how peace is possible, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Lysistrata is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today. It is a hilarious and thought-provoking play that explores important themes such as war, gender, and peace. This Penguin Classics edition features the original Greek texts with facing-page translations and insightful commentary. It is the perfect way to experience this classic work of literature.