I know... in truth no one is like Stalin or better. But I was just watching the YouTube clip Ms.D just posted and I relized that Lysistrata is very similar to Hedda in the fact that she manipulates the people around her to get what she wants even though they may not be happy in the situation.
Case in point: the womyn and the oath that she forces them to swear. They obviouslyly didn't want to abstain from sex nor did they want to deny their husbands an essential part of their relationship or but themselves in harm's way but somehow Lysistrata "convinved" them. I think the fact that she offers enternal comradory is just low and really manipulative that she has all these womyn thiniking that they're going to be friends for ever if tehy agree to this oath.
Also I don't think that Peace willing gave herself as much as she was "persuaded" by Lysistrata.
Can we really look at Lysistrata as a hero if she used manipulation as a means of achieving peace? Can we call this play revolutionary if it is about a manipulative woman? Does her manipulation make her any different from Hedda or Bernarda?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Lysistrata- Stalin but better
Posted by J'mag at 5:55 PM
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3 comments:
that's a very good point. lysistrata is a very effective leader and is successful. she doesnt have to collectivize kulaks or erase people from history to be successful.
she does what she has to do but maintains the successful leadership that propelled her to emerge successful in the battle against the men. intersting title, made me read it and i agree with your assessment.
Definately. i think that the idea that she is so incredibly "persuasive" does put her in Hedda's league. think about it, Hedda convinced Lovborg 2 kill him self and she convinced them to stop screwing their husbands (possibly committing marrital suicide since- as u point out- that's an essential part of their marriages).
hmm, well i think that she was a very effective leader but i don't think she really forced the women to do anything that they didn't want to do. they all could've walked out and not signed the oath, i think there was a lot of persuasion but not any forcefullness on the part of lysistrata.
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