’s actions as retaliation against the men. Aristophanes explores the hostility behind the war and illustrates that same hostility by both parties in the actions of the characters. The women’s sexual drives which keep them from pursuing the goal of ending the war represents the men’s hatred towards the other city-state and why they cannot just quit the war. These same women use their sexuality to accomplish their goal of ending the war. The men end up conceding to the women’s demands for peace essentially so they can, if you will pardon the pun, get some lovin’. According to Magill Book Reviews, “Eventually the sexually deprived men from opposing sides gather but are reluctant to sign the treaty. Soon, however, they are enticed into doing so by the resolute women.” (Magill)The men did not think too much of the women’s planning at the beginning. Aristophanes illustrates well the attitudes of the men towards the women’s intelligence and ability to do anything other than look pretty and satisfy their wants and needs. He demonstrates the way many of the women feel about their own intelligence quite well in a conversation between Lysistrata and Kleonike. It begins as Lysistrata is explaining her plan to bring about peace. Lysistrata says Only this: the hope and salvation of Hellas lies with the WOMEN.Kleonike answers Lies with the women? Now there’s a last resort. Lysistrata continues by adding, It lies with us to decide affairs of state and foreign policy.The Spartan Question: Peaceor Extirpation? (Norton p675.32-38)Even more than that, he portrays women as being tricky, deceitful, and very interested in ensuring their continued sexual relations with their husbands or lovers, whichever the case might be. In this passage, Lysistrata tells them the specifics of her plan to stop the war, and receives her responses from the women.Lysistrata says Very well, then here’...
