The Status of Women in New Testament and Lysistrata
Since the beginning of time the treatment of women has improved
dramatically. In the earliest of times women were mere slaves to men. Today
women are near equals in almost all fields. In 411 B.C., when Lysistrata was
written, men had many stunning advantages to that of their female counterparts.
Although women's rights between 30 and 100 A.D., the time of the New Testament,
were still not what they are today, the treatment of women was far better.
Overall, the equality of women in the New Testament exceeds that of the women in
Lysistrata in three major ways: physical mobility, society's view of women's
nature, and women's public legal rights.
Albeit in Lysistrata the women were shown as revolutionaries rising up
against the men, women in classical Greece were never like that. Aristophanes
created the play as a comedy, showing how the world might be in the times of the
Peloponesian war if women tried to do something. It was the women's job to stay
home and tend to the house, and never leave, unlike they did in the play, the
women were shown as revolutionaries rising up against the men, women in
classical Greece were never like that.
The activities of women in Classical Athens were confined to "bearing
children, spinning and weaving, and maybe managing the domestic arrangements. No
wandering in the beautiful streets for them." The suppression of women went so
far as to divide the house into separate areas for males and females. While the
women stayed home, the men were usually out fighting, and when they weren't
fighting, they were entertaining their friends and having sexual favors
performed by courtesans.
The rights of women in early Christianity were a far cry from today,
although they were much better off than their Athenian counterparts. In the
Christian church, women were treated as equals. The first evidence of this is
when the woman with hemorrhages touches Jesus' clothing and he says that her
faith has made her well (Mark 5:34). This shows that both sexes are treated
equally in that eyes of god even though at this time the hemorrhages that the
The stories about women in the bible illustrate the importance of their role and contribution to society. Women were slaves, concubines, and child bearers; they were also wives, matriarchs, and prophets. Although, some women had less important titles than others each served a purpose. Even if the Bible does not explain God’s relationship with women as with Moses and other prophets, it illustrates the love and dedication women had for Him. The scriptures describe brave, nurturing, and God fearing women whose decisions impacted the existence of the Israelites.
Since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves, the lives of a now deceased society has been placed under the microscope. With the amount of work archaeologists and manuscript scholars have committed themselves to accomplish, more information on these Qumranites has been learned. Scholars have been able to determine that they were a Jewish sect, while also learning that they were a Jewish sect and obtaining their Biblical canon. The majority of scholars have associated the sect of Qumran with the Essenes due to their similarities. Though much was not found at the beginning of the excavations concerning women, it has become a matter in which many scholars are seeking more to know. Further archaeological findings have led to knowing more information about the Qumranite women.
The role of women in Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days is outstandingly subordinate. There are a number of times in Hesiod's text that despises women, being mortal, immortal, or flesh-eating monsters. The overall impression of women from Theogony and Works and Days, leads one to believe that Hesiod is a misogynist.
In this essay I shall be writing about why I agree that with the play,
Aristophanes’ significant contributions in the development of the theater arts and his standing in the Athenian community are well documented. His hilarious comedy, Lysistrata, reflects the disgust with war prevalent at Athens after the disastrous expedition to Sicily. It is ripe with sexual innuendo and provides much insight into the timeliness of human sexuality, desire, and the war of the sexes, yet it was intended to make a political statement regarding the folly of Athenian military aggression. Aristophanes was not suggesting that a sex strike might be an effective means of ending the Peloponnesian War, more likely that the reasons for the war itself were suspect. Lysistrata’s scheme to force the men of Greece to the peace table could never have been successful. Property concerns, gender roles, and the sexuality of Athenian men prevented Athenian women from exerting the necessary political influence.
“Amerlia Earhart once said, ‘Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others." What this quote mean is that women should try to change the world and if they don’t succeed then another women can try to succeed it. The definition of a modern American woman is someone who is determine, confident, fearless, and not afraid of failure.
A play serves as the author's tool for critiquing society. One rarely encounters the ability to transcend accepted social beliefs. These plays reflect controversial issues that the audience can relate to because they interact in the same situations every day. As late nineteenth century playwrights point out the flaws of mankind they also provide an answer to the controversy. Unknowingly the hero or heroine solves the problem at the end of the play and indirectly sends a message to the audience on how to solve their own problem.
In part four of Plato’s Republic, Socrates argues that both men and women will serve as guardians and auxiliaries. Plato appears to endorse feminist ideas. Plato presents Socrates, and himself, as an advocate for feminism. Plato cannot be a feminist due to his motivation for equality. Although Plato endorses some feminist ideas, his endorsement of these ideas does not come from the belief that women should be equal to men, but that everyone must play his or her appropriate role.
one of the most important reasons could be the use of humour in the play.
to create comedy in the play, which is one of the major themes of the
Shakespeare’s play was wrote during a time period where he was putting his shallow plots in the past that helped cause him to find his mature style. He based his play off the consideration of imagination versus reality with the concept that emotions
with Shakespeare writing a comedy play for a man. But this play was soon to be changed
Aristophanes stereotypes women as bickering, self-centered, unintelligent people in the beginning. They are sex driven and selfish. Lysistrata is upset that the women are late for the very important meeting "Here I've called a meeting to discuss a very important matter, and they're all still fast asleep" (180). Calonice sums up what women are thought to do all day, and also what they represent to their households; "The women! What could they ever do that was any use? Sitting at home putting flowers in their hair, putting on cosmetics and saffron gowns and Cimberian see-through shifts, with slippers on our feet?" (181). It is in fact these very frivolous ideas that are used to bring peace to the two cities. Throughout the play Aristophanes begins to knock down ...
are still in place in today's society. The play is a comedy but to a
of interest to the play making it a great play to read and also act