Question

In comedy, some concern of the characters is exaggerated so that the audience laughs, feeling superior because they know better. Which type of concern is more exaggerated in Lysistrata, war or sex?

1) War
2) Sex

Answer 1

In 'Lysistrata' by Aristophanes, the concept of sex is magnified beyond that of war, as the women of Greece withhold sexual relations to force their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War. The play focuses on gender dynamics and the absurdity and futility of war, using sexual exaggeration as a tool for comedy and social commentary.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, the issue of sex is more exaggerated relative to the theme of war. Although the backdrop of the play is the prolonged Peloponnesian War, the comedic element stems from the women's decision to withhold sex as a means to end the war. The exaggerated focus on the sexual desires of the men and their frustration showcases the absurd lengths to which the women will go to achieve peace, thus shedding light on both the power dynamics between genders and the futility of war.

The play's humor derives largely from the portrayal of men's desperate need for sexual relations and the clever manipulation of this desire by the women to coerce their husbands into negotiating peace. Aristophanes not only provides comic relief through sexual innuendo and situations but also offers a satirical critique of the Greek societal norms and the senseless violence of war.