The Driving Force

Lysistrata was a very strong, dominant character. This woman stood for peace and sacrificed for peace which demonstrates her unselfishness. She developed the idea of how powerful of a tool the women's abstinence would be. However, Lysistrata had doubts on rather or not the women would be able to complete the task at hand and fulfill the oath the took. Throughout the play, she refers to the women as sluts and weak almost as if they are good for nothing. She is a wise woman and while most people of this time probably thought that women were weak, she did not underestimate the power of a woman. They don't have very many weapons but Lysistrata encourages the ladies to work with what they have. She serves as the leader that holds the women together when they grow weak. Some ladies attempt to sneak out and leave the akropolis to go home and have sex with their husbands. However, Lysistrata becomes almost like a mother to these ladies as she puts them back into their place and works to keep order amongst the ladies. Oftentimes she serves as the spokesperson for the women and addresses the men firmly. Lysistrata is an essential character and Aristophanes develops her into a very round, dynamic character throughout the play.