The Sustenance of Superiority
In Lysistrata, the powerful demonstration between male and female resistance is shown
throughout the Greek Comedy. The root of these resistances stem from many societal issues that
have been practiced for a long period of time. The men’s form of resistance exemplifies their
human nature, and what they were attempting to achieve from their societal oppositions.
Specifically, the men are constantly insulting the entire female population in order to remain
superior, and sustain their form of social stratification.
The line, “Up your wazoo! You’re born to flatter us,” shows a certainty in the tone of
superiority that is unquestionable to the speaker (Aristophanes, line 1037). The men’s chorus
leader reveals that the men believed that a female’s sole purpose of existence is to bring pleasure
to the male. The men in the Athenian society show a sense of entitlement to this higher level of
treatment. Hushing the women shamelessly by saying, “Up your wazoo!”, shows a lack of
