Lysistrata biography

This section explores the play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, focusing on: the structure, setting, staging, characters, themes and the historical and cultural context of the play.

Lysistrata is a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, first performed in 411 BCE. Set during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the play follows the character Lysistrata, an Athenian woman who persuades the women of Greece to withhold sex from their husbands in order to force them to negotiate peace.

The play is known for its bold and humorous approach to gender roles, political commentary, and social satire.

The central themes of the play revolve around the absurdity of war, the power dynamics between men and women, and the potential for female solidarity to bring about political change.

Despite its comedic tone, Lysistrata offers a pointed critique of the male-dominated society of ancient Greece and highlights the agency of women in the face o