Lysistrata
Production
The setting of the
Lysistrata requires at least one door in the skene representing
the Propylaea, the monumental gateway to the Athenian Acropolis.
All the action of the play takes place in front of this background.
An unusual aspect
of the production of the Lysistrata is the use of two
choruses, one of old men and the other of old women. The conflict
between these two choruses forms an important part of the action
of the play. In addition, there is a chorus of Spartans and a
chorus of Athenians in the exodos.
EXERCISE FOR READING,
COMPREHENSION AND INTERPRETATION
Prologue - Lysistrata,
Calonice (sometimes given as Cleonike), Myrrhine, Lampito (1-253)1
1The
numbers in parentheses refer to lines in the Lysistrata.
What is the dramatic
purpose of the Prologue? What problem is Lysistrata concerned
with (33)?2 What is Lysistrata's
solution to this problem (124)? What will be the ultimate result
if Lysistrata's solution is successful (148-154)? What does Lysistrata
intend to have the women do (175-179)?
2The
Lysistrata is set in the same year in which it was performed
(411 B.C.). The play reflects the disgust with war prevalent
at Athens after she had suffered the loss of the whole fleet
and just about the whole army which had been sent to Sicily (413
B.C.). In addition, many of the members of the Athenian Empire
had begun to revolt.
Parados - Choruses
of Old Men and Old Women (254-386)
What does
the Chorus of Old Men intend to do (266-270)? What action does
the Chorus of Old Women take against the men (331-386)?
Scene - Athenian
Magistrate or Commissioner,3 Chorus (Men), Lysistrata,
three women (387-466)
3The
Magistrate (or as the title is sometimes translated, Commissioner)
is one of a board of ten officials which temporarily replaced
the Council of Five Hundred as chief administrative body of the
Athenian government in the crisis after the disaster in Sicily.
What is the Magistrate's
view of women (387-420)? What does the Magistrate order the policemen
to do (424-430)?
Debate - Lysistrata,
Magistrate, both Choruses (467-613)
What reasons
does Lysistrata give for the women having seized the Acropolis
(488-492)? How do husbands generally react to women's criticism
of the war (506-520)? What is the meaning of the wool-working
analogy used by Lysistrata (567-586)? What concerns does Lysistrata
have with regard to married and unmarried women because of the
war (588-597)? What do Lysistrata and the other women do to the
Magistrate (599-613)? What is the meaning of this action?
Stasimon - both
Choruses (614-705)
In place
of the expected parabasis, a choral song in which the two choruses
insult each other is substituted. What fear does the Chorus of
Old Men express with regard to the women's seizure of the Acropolis
(626-635)? What complaint does the Chorus of Old Women make against
the men (648-658)?
Scene - Lysistrata,
Chorus (Women), three women (706-780)
What has
happened to hinder Lysistrata's plan (717-728)? What is the meaning
of the oracle that Lysistrata reads to the women (770-776)?
Stasimon - both
Choruses (781-828)
What is the
significance of the examples of Melanion and Timon used by the
Choruses of Old Men and Old Women (805-821)?
Scene - Lysistrata,
woman and man (members of chorus), Myrrhine, Cinesias, Chorus,
Spartan Herald (829-1013)
In what state
is Cinesias4 as he arrives on-stage (845 ff.)? What
is the reason for this state? What does he want of Myrrhine (906
ff.)? What condition must Cinesias fulfill before she will comply
with his desire (900-901)? In what condition is the Spartan Herald5
as he arrives on-stage(980 ff.)? What is the situation back in
Sparta (998-1001)? What message for the Spartans does the Athenian
Magistrate give to the Herald (1007-1012)?
4The
name of Cinesias and that of his municipality (Paionidai) are
both derived from common street words for sexual intercourse.
5Like Lampito, the Spartan Herald speaks in the broad
Doric dialect of the Spartans, which is usually translated into
English as an American southern dialect.
Stasimon - both
Choruses (1014-1042)
What view
of women does the Chorus of Old Men express at first (1014-1018)?
What is the reaction of the Chorus of Old Women to this view
(1019-1021)? Explain how and why the Chorus of Old Men change
their view of women (1022-1042)?
Exodos - Combined
Choruses, a Spartan, two Athenians6 Lysistrata, Chorus
of Athenians, Chorus of Spartans (1043 to end)
6These
two Athenians are sometimes identified as Cinesias and the Commissioner.
What invitations
do the combined Choruses extend to the members of the audience
(1043-1071)? In what condition are the Spartan Ambassadors as
they arrive on-stage (1076 ff.)? According to the Spartan, what
is the purpose of the delegation (1080-1081)? What advice does
Lysistrata give to the Athenians and Spartans (1112-1135)? According
to Lysistrata, what had the Athenians done for the Spartans (1137-1146)?
the Spartans for the Athenians (1149-1156)? What is the object
of the sexual desire of the Athenian and the Spartan (1173-1174)?
According to Lysistrata, what will be the rewards of peace (1182-1187)?
What does the first
Athenian say about the relative merits of sobriety and drunkenness
in political negotiations between the Athenians and Spartans(1228-1240)?
How does the play end?
