Lysistrata (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays) Paperback – October 20, 1994

The story and the writing and the presence of phrases we use today (I really hope they are not an inclusion of the translator) can give a tricky sensation that the story has been written at most one hundred of years ago and not the two and half millennia that it has (!). The story is about a way that the heroine, Lysistrata, has devised to end the war that men have waged, the funny thing is that her reason to ideate her plan is the, mostly erotic, longing she feels for not being able to be with his man, and this is the reason the women of Greece accept to back her plan.It is not a war of sexes as the motivation is not to prove which side is the strongest; is rather a way to reunite women and men separated in love by the long war. Also I notice some observations about the government in times of Aristophanes.The translation is what almost gave me reason to give three stars to the book, this because as I am not native English speaker the Scottish accent given to the Spartans seems to me out of place and tiring to decode. Other point that makes me dubious of the work of the translator is if he decided to give a contemporary accent to Spartans thus what guaranty one could have that he has not introduced modern phrases to replace old ones... Finally I believe that with works so ancient is better to use a modern English than one that looks artificially old and disguises the natural poetry with anachronistic clothes. But then again this is a personal observation that could be no usual with the uses in English language.

After war has raged on too long between Greece and Sparta, Lysistrata leads the women of both lands to pledge they will deny sex to their lovers and husbands until peace is reached. The reason is initially because the war has been too long, and then as the men have gone away to battle, leaving their wives alone and bereft. But there is an interesting and brief mention that the women's sons are dying in the war as well, which the men ask not to be brought up again out of grief. As the play is a comedy, this is probably why the loss of children is not discussed further.In her plan, Lysistrata is reducing men to their basest selves, but in truth, she is doing the same to women. She tells the women how hard it will be for them to resist their carnal urges and some women do try and run home for trysts with their husbands. She is also playing to the vision of women as the temptresses, the earthly examples of Aphrodite, upon whom the chorus calls for strength and for power over men.Beyond the sexual withholding, there is a reckoning for the men of both countries, the men of which have not counseled the women. The men's chorus responds with incredulously that a woman should give counsel regarding affairs of war or state. And here is where I think it is most interesting, because one woman provides evidence, saying women control the household finances and budgeting, so why wouldn't a woman be qualified in economic matters of state, as they are not dissimilar. The women's chorus also sings, "It should not prejudice my voice that I’m not born a man, If I say something advantageous to the present situation. For I’m taxed too, and as a toll provide men for the nation."Thus, although this is a play that is on the outset about women withholding sex until men are so lovesick, they throw away their stubbornness and allow women (A woman) to broker peace, there is a richness of other thought beneath the sex comedy.

Let me start by saying that I am not a classics scholar. I have no knowledge of Greek, and the last time I studied Latin was as a high school sophomore thirty five years ago. I am, however, a student of rabbinic literature, and anxious to understand the Greco-Roman milieu from which Rabbinic Judaism emerged. I also am anxious to know how these plays were performed orally, in front of a live audience. To that end, I have always preferred colloquial translations to more formal ones. And this translation certainly fits the bill, providing lots of "colorful" language. While I suspect that purists will find this approach off-putting, I personally find it exhilarating. Remember that we are talking about a comedy show, performed in front of a largely illiterate audience, and perhaps accompanied by imbibing copious amounts of wine. Bawdy? Yes. Off color in places? Yes. But a rollicking good time - yes! No wonder that in Providence, not far from my son's school (URI), they did a series of performances of Lysistrata - which audiences loved. I hope they used this text, or one which is very similar.

This translation really captures the thoroughly earthy tone of Aristophanes and left me wondering about the ancient performers. Were women included in the cast and, if not, how did the males perform convincingly. This quick read is also illustrated in a style half Greek and half something like art deco.

Lysistrata, wife of an influential Athenian has had it with 20+ years of war with Sparta and calls on her sisters from around Greece (including Sparta) to plot to end the war once and for all. The two-pronged plan is elegant in its simplicity: take over the treasury so that no more money can be spent on war, and deny their husbands marital congress until they agree to make peace with each other. The beauty of the play (and what makes it enjoyable to the 21st century reader) is that it speaks to the most basic needs of the human condition while allowing the reader to freely translate the action to modern times. Part of the fun is envisioning the staging of this play - the battle between the women and the graybeards (a slightly distressing scene since my acquisition of an AARP card) - and the approach of the envoys for the peace talks whose obvious sexual distress assures the women of the impending success of their plan provoked an image that actually had me laughing out loud. All in all, it helps support the notion that the classics can be (and should be) fun.

I swear my wife read this play but I know she hasn't. It must be feminine instinct. Loved the story. Still apropos.

Quick read, super funny story. The power of the puss is real. I definitely need to see this as a live stage play.

This extraordinary play by master satirist Aristophanes blew my mind when I first read it years ago. It is the story of how the women of Athens try to end the war with Sparta....by a sex strike! A simple, inspired and comic idea, and what a pity no-one ever took up the idea, or we would have a peaceable planet.Brilliant funny, humane and a reflection on war sex and men. It is well worth reading.

Handy sized and easy to transport, this is a nifty little version of the play; I studied it many years ago and have subsequently lost my original copy, and our drama group is thinking of putting it on next year, so I wanted a cheap copy to refresh my memory. This does the trick nicely.

I got this to study for my first year english degree and this book lacks all of the stage directions, which are pretty important for you to understand what is actually going on. The translation is also more complicated than other versions I've seem.

Lysistrata was one of Aristophanes's comedies with a serious purpose, to stop the endless wars. It is great fun, and sadly it didn't work. Enjoy.

It's a book, a good book.