Blog 4: Is Lysistrata really about feminism?

A prominent theme in Lysistrata is the promotion of feminism. However, there are some points in the play in which women continue to act submissive. Lysistrata asks, “Wouldn’t you like to have them home?” (22), in reference to the husbands on service. This implies men must be present and  women cannot succeed without their husbands. Throughout the entirety of the play, the only value the women have is their physical appearance. They objectify themselves because they want the war to end. They do not advocate for equality. They do not explain their intellectual abilities. The issue they solve is merely political. The power the women possess is short lived. The women continue to demote themselves to objects when they use Peace’s allure. Kinesias comments “Never saw one I wanted so much to top” (103). Peace symbolizes the end of the war. She also symbolizes the way the men view the women.  At the conclusion of the play, Lysistrata says, “each man stand by his wife, each wife by her husband” (112). The men quickly end the war so they can sleep with the women again. Now that the sex strike is over, the women no longer possess any power over the men. The women are content with their purpose. They do not become upset when their bodies are their only attributes the men give attention. Presumably, they are back in the same situation as the start of the play except the war is over. Is there really a feminist movement? It is somewhat ironic.