A Fight for Equality or a Fight for Dominance

A leader thrives off their own team’s success and the fearfulness their opponents possess. Lysistrata a leader of her own female army thrived on her male opponents weaknesses. Displaying strength and agility to men, who now know to “never underestimate the power of women” (51). At the start of the play, the audience can easily see Lysistratas strong feministic values and strikes to bring women out of their husband’s shadows. Nevertheless, as the play progresses on ward she finds joy and fulfillment in watching the men fall to their feet for their cowardly desires “I’m overcome” (80).  As the men fall from their high stature and become weak Lysistrata can see that her fight for peace comes along with the fight for dominance she had ‘intended to give you hell” (102).

The main conflict that arises throughout the female’s journey is their lust for power and dominance. In a switch of characteristics amongst the sexes, the males and females discover their weaknesses and their strengths. The male army had discovered their weakness when it came to sex and the conflict they would face because of it “I’m destroyed, if this is drawn out much longer” (102).  The female army however had found that sex made them stronger and “without some wisdom” (102) they would not be classified as women or avengers of peace.

Both sexes faced conflicts with their newly developed characteristics. Lysistrata and her estrogen filled army hold onto their strength and their old roles welcoming the men “to the citadel and treat to all the delights of a home-cooked meal” (106). Remaining in their old roles but holding on dearly to the dominance and control, they had once had over the men.