The play Lysistrata tackles many serious issues such as war, the role of women in society, obedience, and reconciliation. However, the play’s writer, Aristophanes, does not use a serious, dramatic tone make his point. Instead, he incorporates humor to bring light to the serious issues facing Athens at that point in history. When the men come to the Akropolis to try and force the women out, the Koryphaios of Men and the Koryphaios of Women engage in a comical exchange short bursts of heated words.
Koryphaios of Men: Why the water, you sink of iniquity? More sedition?
Koryphaios of Women: Why the fire, you walking boneyard? Self-cremation?
Koryphaios of Men: I brought this fire to ignite a pyre and fricassee your friends.
Koryphaios of Women: I brought this water to douse your pyre. Tit for tat.
Koryphaios of Men: You’ll douse my fire? Nonsense!
Koryphaios of Women: You’ll see, when the facts soak in.
In addition to verbal comedy, Aristophanes also incorporates physical comedy into the play. For example, the points at which Lysistrata dresses the Commissioner as a women or when one of the women uses the helmet of Athene to fake being pregnant are comedic actions that make the audience laugh out loud. And, of course, there are many sexual jokes to keep the audience entertained, such as sexual innuendos and phallic symbols. As Kinesias enters the Akropolis to try and see Myrrhine, the dialogue between him and Lysistrata is filled with sexual innuendos.
Lysistrata: WHO GOES THERE? WHO PENETRATES OUR POSITIONS?
Kinesias: Me.
Lysistrata: A Man?
Kinesias: Every inch.
Lysistrata: Then inch yourself out of here. Off Limits to Men.
By incorporating an array of comical devices, Aristophanes is able to draw his audience in and keep his audience’s attention while still being able to illustrate that the war between Athens and Sparta is a senseless waste of time that is detrimental to Greece.
