LYSISTRATA

Read the following passage:

LYSISTRATA

And not the slightest glitter of a lover!

And since the Milesians betrayed us, I've not seen

The image of a single upright man

To be a marble consolation to us.

Now will you help me, if I find a means

To stamp the war out.

MYRRHINE

By the two Goddesses, Yes!

I will though I've to pawn this very dress

And drink the barter-money the same day.

CALONICE

And I too though I'm split up like a turbot

And half is hackt off as the price of peace.

LAMPITO

And I too! Why, to get a peep at the shy thing

I'd clamber up to the tip-top o' Taygetus.

LYSISTRATA

Then I'll expose my mighty mystery.

O women, if we would compel the men

To bow to Peace, we must refrain--

MYRRHINE

From what?

O tell us!

LYSISTRATA

Will you truly do it then?

MYRRHINE

We will, we will, if we must die for it.

LYSISTRATA

We must refrain from every depth of love….

Why do you turn your backs? Where are you going?

Why do you bite your lips and shake your heads?

Why are your faces blanched? Why do you weep?

Will you or won't you, or what do you mean?

MYRRHINE

No, I won't do it. Let the war proceed.

-Lysistrata, Aristophanes

Then answer the following question:

How did Greek stereotypes about gender relate to the structure of Greek society as a whole?