Elements Of Satire In 'Lysistrata' By Aristophanes

Satire is a peculiar form of literature. Unlike other literary genres, satire doesn’t embody a certain structure. Satire can be found within other literary genres, causing a confusion on the classification of the said piece. An example of this dilemma would be Lysistrata, a play by Aristophanes that many categorize as a comedy. The problem with this categorization is that Lysistrata is actually a satirical piece as well. This play is a form of satire because it addresses a societal problem in an entertaining fashion, proposes a “dream world” solution, and contains elements such as obscenity and irony that are key components of satire.

As Hodgart defines it, “Satire… has its origin in a state of mind which is critical and aggressive, usually

One of these elements is irony. Not only does irony add to the comical aspect of the piece, it also aids the author in conveying their point for their argument against society. An example of irony in Lysistrata is when the Magistrate claims that the plan of abstinence won’t work because the men won’t ever obey the women. This is ironic because in the end the men concede and fall for the plan. Myrrhine’s husband pathetically begs her to lay with him, claiming to do whatever he needs so that she will concede. Another element of satire is obscenity. Obscenity is key to satire because it “levels all men” and removes distinctions such as social rank and wealth. An example of obscenity in Lysistrata is in the opening scene when Calonice questions Lysistrata on whether this meeting is of great importance or not. Calonice asks, “big and meaty, you mean?” to which Lysistrata replies, “very big and very meaty.” Lysistrata doesn’t automatically catch on to the fact that Calonice is referring to some double entendre, big and meaty translating to long and thick. This would be describing the penis of a man, something that is quite obscene when discussed in this manner. Just the mention of sex in general and the way that the women crave it is obscene. Sex is a taboo subject and is one that fits in perfectly with