Lysistrata – Ageism as Comedy
...ly accurate because older people still have sex. It may not be as often as the younger couples, but refusing their husbands will still be effective. The older women are sent to take the Akropolis, which proves to be even more effective and useful than the sex strike. The older women not only take the Akropolis, but they prevent the older men from being able to take it back. The older women fight them physically and mentally, proving to be even stronger and wiser than the young women. The Chorus of Old Men are confused and overwhelmed by the Chorus of Old Women, and act cowardly toward them. The Koryphaios of Men hits the Koryphaios of Women in the jaw and runs away, back to his group of men. This act of cowardice toward the women is not seen with the younger men, and is characterized by the older men. It suggests that the older men lose their nerve, and lose their power of their women. The fighting between the Chorus of Old Men and the Chorus of Old Women is comical, as well as the fight between the Koryphaios of Men and the Koryphaios of Women. The fighting shows the weak and unsuccessful punches of elderly people, and also uses their weaknesses and sexual comments as a comedic element of the play. The fights are not to be taken seriously, implying that the older people are not to be taken seriously. The younger characters are also portrayed in a stereotypical way, implying that they are all desperately sexual and have little control. The young men run around with painful erections, and are unable to control their bodies. The young women begin to cave into their desires, and make excuses to Lysist...