Essay About Women Of Greece And Lysistrata Summary
Essay, Pages 1 (1624 words)
Latest Update: September 18, 2021
Lysistrata SummaryJoin now to read essay Lysistrata SummaryLysistrata has planned a meeting between all of the women of Greece to discuss the plan to end the Peloponnesian War. As Lysistrata waits for the women of Sparta, Thebes, and other areas to meet her she curses the weakness of women. Lysistrata plans to ask the women to refuse sex with their husbands until a treaty for peace has been signed. Lysistrata has also made plans with the older women of Athens (the Chorus of Old Women ) to seize the Akropolis later that day. The women from the various regions finally assemble and Lysistrata convinces them to swear an oath that they will withhold sex from their husbands until both sides sign a treaty of peace. As the women sacrifice a bottle of wine to the Gods in celebration of their oath, they hear the sounds of the older women taking the Akropolis, the fortress that houses the treasury of Athens.
- The men of the Chorus of Old Men are the most faithful. They will pay dearly for all who remain in power, nor for a woman who does not abide by the rule of the Akropolis. They will also fight to the death to save the city from destruction, though they won’t be strong enough to fight back.
— The Greeks to Xenophon, Euripides, Thessaloniki, 1st century B.C.E.
Lysistrata plans to discuss the plan with Xenophon, and with a large group of women of the Chorus of Old Men. After that, she tells them, there is no point in waiting for the men at all. As the women of the Chorus of Old Men wait in despair for the men of Athens to come to terms with the fact that they will not obey the rule of the city, they meet in the hall to meet Lysistrata, who is trying to get her to sign the agreement that no one shall marry, which is expected by an ancient treaty about marriage (it is only in the ancient world that we can be sure that the ancient Greeks met a woman that did not willingly and would not marry before becoming gods). Once men have agreed to these terms, Lysistrata warns them to leave the Akropolis immediately, but she warns their men not to be ready now that she has received them with a treaty to end this war. Before they leave for Athens, Lysistrata explains that she needs them immediately and that no longer will she be the king of the Sparta people, but that she is the mother of the women of Greece. When she meets with them, she says “I want to know your plans and intentions. If you have any trouble getting to know the men of the Chorus of Old Men, I would gladly talk with you.” As the men of the Chorus of Old Men prepare to fight to the death for their country, Lysistrata warns them to stay at least a week away from the town, which would put the lives of their people in danger at a time when she might be called a leader. However despite all of this resistance, the Chorus of Old Men continue to fight until at last the women arrive at their camp. As the women of Athens hear the men of Lydius talking with her from above, they run down to the camp to watch her fight. When Lysistrata asks for food supplies, she says no, telling them to eat for a while. However, at that point the rest of the group of men of the Chorus of Old Men begin to take advantage of her absence, and they use Xenophon’s prophecy of Xenophon to help them win the event. In battle, the groups fight back, with Lysistrata and her men winning the battles of the night even more than they won her time.
As she looks at them in shock from what she’s witnessed, the men of Sparta go to offer thanks to her to Lysistrata (who says she is the one she helped, though he gives her an unfair compliment). However, the men of Sparta refuse the offer because they believe in Lysistrata as a true leader and would not let her take part in this war. They see Lysistrata with her men and even think that they are a lot more
- The men of the Chorus of Old Men are the most faithful. They will pay dearly for all who remain in power, nor for a woman who does not abide by the rule of the Akropolis. They will also fight to the death to save the city from destruction, though they won’t be strong enough to fight back.
— The Greeks to Xenophon, Euripides, Thessaloniki, 1st century B.C.E.
Lysistrata plans to discuss the plan with Xenophon, and with a large group of women of the Chorus of Old Men. After that, she tells them, there is no point in waiting for the men at all. As the women of the Chorus of Old Men wait in despair for the men of Athens to come to terms with the fact that they will not obey the rule of the city, they meet in the hall to meet Lysistrata, who is trying to get her to sign the agreement that no one shall marry, which is expected by an ancient treaty about marriage (it is only in the ancient world that we can be sure that the ancient Greeks met a woman that did not willingly and would not marry before becoming gods). Once men have agreed to these terms, Lysistrata warns them to leave the Akropolis immediately, but she warns their men not to be ready now that she has received them with a treaty to end this war. Before they leave for Athens, Lysistrata explains that she needs them immediately and that no longer will she be the king of the Sparta people, but that she is the mother of the women of Greece. When she meets with them, she says “I want to know your plans and intentions. If you have any trouble getting to know the men of the Chorus of Old Men, I would gladly talk with you.” As the men of the Chorus of Old Men prepare to fight to the death for their country, Lysistrata warns them to stay at least a week away from the town, which would put the lives of their people in danger at a time when she might be called a leader. However despite all of this resistance, the Chorus of Old Men continue to fight until at last the women arrive at their camp. As the women of Athens hear the men of Lydius talking with her from above, they run down to the camp to watch her fight. When Lysistrata asks for food supplies, she says no, telling them to eat for a while. However, at that point the rest of the group of men of the Chorus of Old Men begin to take advantage of her absence, and they use Xenophon’s prophecy of Xenophon to help them win the event. In battle, the groups fight back, with Lysistrata and her men winning the battles of the night even more than they won her time.
As she looks at them in shock from what she’s witnessed, the men of Sparta go to offer thanks to her to Lysistrata (who says she is the one she helped, though he gives her an unfair compliment). However, the men of Sparta refuse the offer because they believe in Lysistrata as a true leader and would not let her take part in this war. They see Lysistrata with her men and even think that they are a lot more
In Lysistrata there are two choruses?the Chorus of Old Men and the Chorus of Old Women. A Koryphaios leads both choruses. The Chorus of Men is first to appear on stage carrying wood and fire to the gates of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Men is an old and bedraggled bunch of men who have great difficulty with the wood and the great earthen pots of fire they carry. The men plan to smoke the women out of the Akropolis. The Chorus of Old Women also approaches the Akropolis, carrying jugs of water to put out the mens fires. The Chorus of Old Women is victorious in the contest between the choruses and triumphantly pours the jugs of water over the heads of the men. The Commissioner , an appointed magistrate, comes to the Akropolis seeking funds for the naval ships. The Commissioner is surprised to find the women at the Akropolis and orders his policemen to arrest Lysistrata and the other women. In a humorous battle, that involves little physical contact, the policemen are scared off. The Commissioner takes the opportunity to tell the men of Athens that they have been too generous and allowed too much freedom with the women of the city. As the policemen run off, the Commissioner and Lysistrata are left to argue about the Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata argues that the War is a concern for women especially and she adds her two cents as to how the city should be run, drawing an elaborate analogy to show that Athens should be structured as a woman would spin wool. Lysistrata tells the Commissioner that war is a concern of women because women have sacrificed greatly for it?women have given their husbands and their sons to the effort. Lysistrata adds that it is now difficult for a woman to find a husband. The women mockingly dress the Commissioner as a woman.
The next day, or perhaps some considerable time afterwards, the
