Final answer:
In 'Lysistrata', women's deceit is used to end the Peloponnesian War, highlighting their potential to influence significant changes and offering a stark contrast to the destructive cunning of Medea.
Step-by-step explanation:
In contrast to Euripides' tragedy Medea, the comedy Lysistrata by Aristophanes portrays the "trickery and deceit" of women as being enlisted in the service of promoting peace. In Lysistrata, women use their influence and sexuality as a means to an end, which is to bring about the cessation of the Peloponnesian War. They cleverly orchestrate a sex strike, which eventually pressures the men to negotiate peace and end the conflict.
This play breaks away from the typical portrayal of women during the time by pointing to their ability to influence major social and political issues. The humor and outlandish scenarios in the play not only entertained audiences but also highlighted the follies of war and the narrow perspectives men held of women. The comedy hence uses the trickery of women to serve a noble cause, contrasting with the destructive cunning of Medea in her eponymous play.