In modern day society, female gender roles are defined in several of forms; ranging from the stereotypical concept of women being the primary caretakers to women being the dominant sex. After analyzing two sources of past literature, two iconic women represent personas of both social standings. In the literary works “Genesis” of The Hebrew Bible; along with, “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes, impactful phenomena take place in the era of these women. In the scripture “Genesis” of The Hebrew Bible, a young lady by the name of Eve was created by God. Joined by the almighty power of God, Adam, and God’s first creation of man; together with Eve were united in Holy Matrimony by Heavenly Father. As time progressed, Eve stumbled upon a serpent with a vile …show more content…
In the time of war between the men of Athenian, Lysistrata calls upon all the women of Athenian to give up all acts of sex towards the men in combat. Empowered by her idea of celibacy, Lysistrata preaches to the women, “From now on, no more penises for you!” (Lysistrata 829). In unison, the women of Athenian chant a promise to stay abstinent until all chaos is resolved. Furthering into the strike, many women have tended to feel deprived of sex, as well as lust. Lysistrata massive persistence in staying true to the seldom promise veers the weak into a hopeful direction. In conclusion to the Greek mythology of “Lysistrata”, the abstain notions of interacting in sex, lead to the war ending. Lysistrata was praised as a heroic figure and respected by her district of …show more content…
In the era of “Genesis”, Eve known to be submissive to her man, while Lysistrata is not. Eve has a low tolerance of self-control, while Lysistrata has a determined intuition of abiding by what she standing for. The roles of women evolved dramatically over these time periods, women went from being beneath the power of a man to bring the power that rules over man. Aside from differing, Eve and Lysistrata carry similar common traits as well. Both women are loyal to what they believe is correct. True character is shown between both females in Eve’s devotion to her husband, Adam, along with Lysistrata 's faithful persistence to her
In areas where Clytemnestra contrasts Agamemnon (she is strong and demanding and he is arrogant and complacent), Electra strengthens and adds authority to Orestes (encourages him to fulfill the plot against Clytemnestra and Aegisthus). Electra merely provides information for Orestes while Clytemnestra is the brains behind her operation and does her own dirty work. These two women, one bore the other, became such different people. Clytemnestra had this thirst for power hurting any and every one in her way. Meanwhile Electra wanted justice for all who had been harmed by her mother’s selfish ways. Electra helped to accomplish the will of Apollo who took action through Orestes and her own agenda was finished by Orestes as he murdered Clytemnestra and Aegisthus to avenge Agamemnon’s unjust murder.Clytemnestra and Electra are opposite characters who are related but have no similarities. These two women accomplish their own agendas, each leading to their own individual success stories. Unfortunately for one death was imminent but her plan to reign as queen was fulfilled and she needed very little help along the way. The strength that comes from Clytemnestra is uncharacteristic of the times but showed the reader that even in times of timidity for women it was acceptable to a certain degree to be successful and that getting a man’s job done was something women were capable of doing. Electra’s reserved attitude and presence comes from a more accurate portrayal of the Greek Hellenic woman. She obeys her father and she respects and loves her family, most of all she is loyal to justice. These two characters are very different and represent very different eras of women, Clytemnestra a more feministic, outgoing, and care free woman; whereas Electra is quiet, dutiful, and outspoken. They have different views
Traditionally in ancient studies of various civilizations, women assume a submissive role as caretaker of the house and family. Generally, this trend continues throughout early organized society until around the time of sixty four A.D. with the rapid spread and judgment of the new religious dynamic of Christianity. The novel faith becomes notorious for the strong ties and companionship between members of the community as well as the appealing views of a compassionate deity and rewarding afterlife. These characteristics attracted women and impoverished peoples of Rome in particular. As the belief system caught on in the Empire many pagans and Emperors such as Nero rejected the faith and began to persecute these people for their beliefs. The cruel sufferings and deaths that Christians endured granted power to not only men of the religion, but also women for their dedication and bravery in declaring their religious beliefs. When analyzing the character of Lysistrata in Aristophanes’ play and Perpetua in the account of her martyrdom, significant differences can be seen in the two women’s leadership roles. While Lysistrata’s derived her authority from lust and manipulation, Perpetua’s authority stemmed from the Christian belief system. Furthermore, with the popularity of Christianity in ancient Rome, society viewed women as equal to men, spiritual leaders, modest and virtuous, and intelligent enough to make their own choices in life.
Medea and Lysistrata are two Greek literatures that depict the power which women are driven to achieve in an aim to defy gender inequality. In The Medea, Medea is battling against her husband Jason whom she hates. On the other hand, in Aristophanes' Lysistrata, the protagonist Lysistrata plotted to convince and organize the female gender to protest against the stubbornness of men. In terms of defining the purpose of these two literatures, it is apparent that Euripedes and Aristophanes created characters that demonstrate resistance against the domination of men in the society.
She places in people the desire to have sexual relations and causes fear in men of the power of seduction by women. Her marriage to her husband was ignored as she had affairs with immortal and mortal men. Her infidelity in her marriage places her on the side with Greek men, rather than Greek women because only Greek men were able to cheat on their wives; not the other way around. In conclusion, the three important rules discussed in this paper that Greek women were required to obey, can be seen in the myths of the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Whether or not the Greek goddesses obeyed or did not obey these rules, their importance to the Greek culture is ever strong.
An Examination of Gender Perspectives in Lysistrata In our piece our protagonist, known as Lysistrata rallies a group of women together in order to protest peace. In most demonstrations, protestors march, picket, or boycott, however, our author Aristophanes chooses a medium much more unconventional than what you would hear on the 6 o clock news to convey her intentions. Lysistrata proposes to the women to engage in a ‘sex strike’ where the women will refuse to engage in sexual acts with their husbands until they agree to sign the peace treaty. While the peace treaty is eventually signed, symbolizing the success in Lysistrata’s methods, it has little effect on the perceptions that the opposing genders have on each other.
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata details one woman’s mission to try and end the Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata, was a strong Athenian woman who convinced the women of Greece to withhold sex from their husbands, and by doing so Lysistrata believes this will force the men to sign a treaty of peace and end the war. Lysistrata reveals her plan to take matters in her own hands and to end the war between Sparta and Athens (Johnston; ARISTOPHANES LYSISTRATA).
In the play “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes the women who shows real determination is Myrrhine. In the play, all the women have agreed to abstain from having sex with their husbands in order
On page 16, Lysistrata says to Kleonike, “I’m positively ashamed to be a woman-- a member of a sex which can’t even live up to male slanders!” I find it contradicting how in the beginning she says that she is ashamed to be a woman because the only thing they are good for is glamour, but yet she believes that with this same ability, they have the power to stop the war. If she thinks that women have the ability to get the men to stop the war then she has to have some pride in being a woman. When Lysistrata proposes that the women should give up having sex they disagree with her at first believing that she’s taking things too far. However, after she explains how they can go about doing so the other women come around and agree with her. She tells
I first read Lysistrata back in high school and I really loved the play because not only was it comical but I love the sexual innuendos that are mixed into this play. Anyway, just like Antigone, where there was main female role, in Lysistrata, Lysistrata was also the main female role in the play which is funny being that in this time period women basically had no basic rights, but here these women have the leading roles. What is also funny is that even though women had no rights, it was the women in Lysistrata who aid in ending the war rather quickly. Another thing I noticed was that when Lysistrata was bringing up the plan to the women that came they were all for the plan with the thought of the plan whatever it is in ending the war, but
Lysistrata is a work of fiction inspired by real life events, and although the outcome of the play did not have a vast effect on the Peloponnesian war itself, it did however, bring up a subtle notion of female strength and wit. Although being comical in the play, the idea of letting women be in charge of political issues remained a question that other politicians, writers, and philosophers57 pondered on through continuing
Lysistrata, first produced in 411 B.C. is a play that represents the frustrations that Athenian women faced due to the Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata, an Athenian woman is the play's heroine; her name is significant in itself, as it means "she who disbands the armies" (Page 467, footnote 2). With the aide of other Athenian women, Lysistrata organizes a "sex strike" in an effort to cease further violence and bring peace between Athens and Sparta. Eventually, her campaign is adopted by the women of Greece, and the efforts of the Athenian women are successful. Lysistrata is not only a leader for Athenian women; she is also bold and does not represent the stereotype of traditional, domestic Athenian women.
The women of Lysistrata are only seeking peace from the war. Their husbands have been away for many decades and they have finally decided that it has been long enough. “My husbands been away five months in Thrace. Somebody’s gotta watch the general.
The portrait of woman in the Roman / Greek Mythology Homer. (1959). The Iliad of Homer (Vol. 18). United Holdings Group The Iliad narrates a story about the Trojan War, where the desire to possess a woman caused the battle for 10 years.
They were typically not the objects of their significant other sexual need. “Bearing children and managing a household were all that would ordinarily have been asked of a wife" (Hooper 254). Athenian men, unlike women, had chances for sex outside marriage that carried no punishments. Besides sex with female slaves, who could not refuse their masters, men could choose between a number of programs of prostitutes and hetaera. "What Athenian men liked about the hetaera was that they excelled at all the things those same men prevented their wives from learning" (Tannahill 101). Though the most important inspiration for the women of Lysistrata to end the war is the return of their other half to their beds, it is actual that the men have been pass over their duties for some time. Tannahill also points to the waves of the increasing status of pederasty and homosexuality (Tannahill 84). What is clear is that a man in Cinesias’ predicament would have several avenues for purchasing the necessary exercise to prevent
In the Iliad we saw women as items of exchange and as markers of status for the men who possessed them (Chryseis and Briseis, whom Agamemnon and Achilles argue over in Book I). We saw them in their normal social roles as mothers and wives (Hecuba, Andromache in Book VI). We saw stereotypical characterizations of them as fickle (Helen in Book VI), seductive, and deceitful (Hera in Book XIV). We see them as an obstacle that the male hero has to overcome or resist to fulfill his heroic destiny (Andromache 's entreaties to Hector in Book VI).