Studying and analysing two plays that have been written with different perspectives and ideas causes one to wonder why and how they might be so similar or diverse when dealing with a specific topic. Lysistrata by Aristophanes is written in 410 B.C.E. while Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman is written in 1991. It is surprising when one can find similarities in both works even though they are written in entirely different times. Over the generations, women are known to obtain power through their sexuality. The use of sexuality by women as a tool either leading them to success or failure has been a trait that we see since the beginning of the human evolution. This characteristic of women transcends from millions of years ago till the 21st century- today.
When comparing Lysistrata and Death and the Maiden, one may become aware of the fact that sexuality of women is very vivid in both works. In both works, women are treated as sex objects. In Lysistrata, the women are expected to look after the household, the children and satisfy their husbands when they return from war. Lysistrata: If someone had invited them to a festival of Bacchos, say; or to Pans shrine, or to AphroditesBut now not a women in sight! ... Lysistrata: Really, I dont blame the men for what they talk about us. (Dudley Fitts, Prologue, 1). Lysistrata has called a meeting with the women of Greece. However, they all arrive late. In the above quotes, Lysistrata is telling the audience that women at that time are used as sex objects and must obey their husbands. This introduces a scenario of God (man) and slave (woman).
In Death and the Maiden, Paulina is raped and tortured when the country was under dictatorship. She is tortured by the people that work for the Commission. After several years of looking for the rapist and not being able to trust anyone, Doctor Miranda (the rapist) comes to Paulinas door. All Paulina asks for is justice and wants the rapist to confess. However, in the country where this play takes place, the only crimes that are taken into account are those that end in death. Women abuse is given no priority. The fact that Paulina was raped and she was not given justice shows that during that era, women were not treated with respect- like Lysistrata. The following quote from Death and the Maiden proves the above. Paulina: This Commission youre named to. Doesnt it only investigate cases that ended in death? Paulina: Beyond repair. Irreparable, huh? (Act1, Scene1, Page 9).
Paulina: You hungry, you wanna eat? Ill give you something to eat, sweet cunt, Ill give you something big and filling so you can forget youre hungry (Act 2, Scene 1, Page 29). This quote shows how Doctor Miranda spoke to Paulina when the Commission was interrogating her. The above quote can be seen as a filthy and dirty innuendo.
In both works, it can be seen that justice/ peace is brought by the female figure. Superior figures, such as the Commission in Lysistrata and Gerardo- lawyer and Paulinas husband, are not able to change the situation in any way. In both works, these superior, law figures are men and they only there to prevent the women to reach their final goal.
In Lysistrata, the women achieve what they want bring about Peace in Greece- by refusing to make love with their husbands when they return from war. Finally, this prevents the men from going to war and peace is restored in Greece. Thus, in this play sexuality is manipulated in such a way to benefit women and help them succeed. At the beginning, the women in this play are very innocent and all they do is satisfy their husbands and look after the domestic activities of society. Choragos(m): The state were in! Cant bear a stitch below my waist. Its kind of a pelvic paralysis (Parados, Scene 5, Line 7). This shows that the men have finally given up and the women are successful. Through the refusal of sex, the women have gained power- even more power than men.
However, even though sexuality is very prominent in Death and the Maiden, sex is used in such a way that a downfall of women is seen. Paulinas rape causes her to lose confidence and makes her very insecure. She is not able to trust her husband but does claim to love him. She was very confident and daring before she was raped. However, after her innocence was taken away, she can be seen as a lifeless person. Her life is not worth living anymore. Her past has always haunted her and the only way she can move on is by finding the rapist and making sure that he confesses to the crime. One can see her personality before the rape in the following quote. Paulina: I was wild and fearless, willing to do anything, I cant believe that I didnt have and ounce of fear in my whole body at that time. (Act 2, Scene 2, Page 30).
The sound of a far away car can be heard. She hurriedly stands up, goes to the other room, looks out the windowShe goes to the sideboard, takes out a gun, stops when the motor is turned off and she hears Gerardos voice (Act 1, Scene 1, Page 1). This takes place right at the beginning of the play. The audience is thrown a situation. Thus, one can say that this is her personality after the rape, which the audience learns about later on. Paulina takes out a gun because she hears the engine of a car. That shows her insecurity and lack of confidence. Hence, one can come to the conclusion that due to the loss of her virginity and innocence, she is paranoid and self-doubting. This shows that because a man took away Paulinas innocence with force, she has fallen and lost power contradicting Lysistrata.
One may come to the conclusion that women use their sexuality to achieve what they want. However, when men come into the picture, women must carefully decide how to use their sexuality so that it benefits them and does not cause them to lose their status in society. The theme of women using sexuality as a tool is a characteristic used in texts that can be seen as being timeless. Death and the Maiden and Lysistrata, written in two diverse societies and in two different generations still express the same characteristic. Therefore, even though one might say that todays society is modern and todays values are different from those of the past, some things will remain timeless.
Sources Used
Dorfman, Ariel. Death and the Maiden. Penguin Plays
Aristophanes. Lysistrata.
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