Final answer:
The ending of 'Lysistrata' shows a shift back to traditional gender roles as the men agree to peace, suggesting a reinstatement of patriarchal control despite the women's earlier success in leveraging their influence to end the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ending of Lysistrata by Aristophanes can be seen as a departure from the play's earlier gender politics that emphasize female power and agency. Throughout the play, the women of Greece exercise control and influence over the warring men by withholding sex, leveraging their desire to restore peace and sexual relationships. This act subverts traditional gender roles and displays a consciousness of the women's social position within Greek society.
However, the conclusion, which sees the men agreeing to peace to end their sexual deprivation, may re-establish traditional gender dynamics by depicting men as ultimately regaining control of the societal order, despite having acceded to the women’s demands for peace.
Moreover, the ending of Lysistrata raises questions about the sustainability of women's newfound power and their long-term influence on politics and war. Thus, while the women succeed in their immediate goal to end the war, the ending can be interpreted as reinforcing traditional patriarchal values, potentially undermining the more progressive gender politics presented earlier in the play.