. John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton once stated, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” However, the usage of power can be implemented positively or negatively, depending on the intentions of an individual. By definition, power is stated as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh by Sin-Leqi-Unninni and Lysistrata by Aristophanes demonstrate that not all who wield power results in corruption. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu, the companion and friend of Gilgamesh, obtains an amount of power that is different from Gilgamesh’s power. Although Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk and controls power in the city, Enkidu was created as …show more content…
The women felt that the war was causing disruption and ruining the unity between the people. Particularly, the main protagonist Lysistrata herself, gathers the power of females in hopes for peace and the reunion of Greece. Although the women initially were dubious about ending the war with a sex strike, it was Lysistrata who brought leadership to the group, encouraging all to contribute their powers for good, as she says, “Our country’s fortunes are in our hands; and whether the Spartans shall perish and the Boeotians shall be completely annihilated” (Aristophane 34-35). During this process, the women were faced with corrupted men, who believed that females should have no participation in the topic of war. Rather than succumbing to the demands of the men, Lysistrata insisted and argued for women to take charge and restore Athens. Near the end of the story, Lysistrata makes reconciliation by saying, “Now I intend to give you a scolding which you both deserve” (Aristophane 1147). Although the men were scolding Lysistrata initially for devising this entire plan, it is now Lysistrata controlling the situation. This exhibits the extent of power Lysistrata has, and how her effects of power impact others. Initially, the power of Athens was held in the hands of the men, as they were only perceived capable of handling important issues. However, the role of power which Lysistrata held eventually proved to everyone that fighting was unnecessary, and a truce was imperative for the
Lysistrata, the main character, is able to form this assembly of women because each of the women, including Lysistrata, share a common purpose. In fact, as we see in the definition, a common purpose or goal is the main basis for forming an assembly. A common goal is what changes individual refusals into assembly. So the
Clytemnestra wasn’t like most of the women in Greece who stood silently by their husband 's side; she was a woman ahead of her time. Just take a look at her position, while her husband was at war she was ruling Argos. Most were not happy about this, but when confronted she would throw away her femininity to stand on equal ground. For example when she speaks to the chorus she says, “You try me out as if I were a woman and vain; but my heart does not flutter as I speak to you.” She was strong and had confidence in herself.
During the time of war, women of Greece were tired of their men being at war. Because women wanted to preserve their traditional way of life, Lysistrata gathered all the women of Greece and gives them the details of her plan to stop the war. Hoping that men will eventually end the war and bring peace, she encourages women to hold sexual favors from their husbands until the war is over. She tells women to dress in sexy clothing and hold a sexual strike against men. After some time, the sex-strike held by women of Greece begins to take effect on the men.
The Peloponnesian War influenced much of Aristophanes works and Lysistrata was no exception. The roles of women changed out of necessity as Aristophanes criticism of the war grew. This shift in the roles of women is evident in his works. Changing roles of women.
One of the largest and most technologically advanced empires of the ancient world was the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which existed from 911 BC to 609 BC. The empire exerted its influence over much of the Near East through military conquests and political methods during this period. The cultural and political values of the Neo-Assyrian Empire are shown through the texts from the epic of Gilgamesh. The emphasis on strength, power, and control depicted by the Gilgamesh texts is one of the most notable aspects of the Neo Assyrian Empire.
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, this is a prevalent quote to most of the characters. This was true in particular to the characters of Brutus, Julius Caesar, and Cassius. Although some of these characters in the start of the play may have seemed without the corruption of power, they all developed it at some point in the play. To Brutus it seemed to make him nobler without the gain of any success from power.
Lysistrata is a comedy written by aristophane. He tells the story of continuing war that occurred between Athens and Spartans and its allies,where Athens was suffering an enormous defeat .The men of the Athenian society used the treasures of the city stored in acropolis to fund the war. The women of both Sparta and Athens where deprived of seeing their husbands because of this war. Lysistrata a middle class wife of Athens came up with a plan to end the war and bring lasting peace to Athens and Sparta.
Her grace, power, and overall determination gained the respect from all the women. Close to the beginning of the poem Lysistrata states "But if the women gather together here—the Boeotian women, the Peloponnesian women, and ourselves—together we'll be able to rescue Greece." (I. 39). She uses the word rescue to show how detrimental this war is and Lysistrata knew if everyone came together the war would end. She knew what the war was all about and ultimately she knew it was wrong.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh interrelationships between the humans and gods are not what we are used to in most modern monotheistic societies. Perhaps the greatest difference between the power of humans and gods is when Gilgamesh is referred to as “Two-thirds of him was divine, one-third of him was human!” (39) as this reveals Gilgamesh to be the son of Lugalbanda the former king and the goddess Ninsun. This would indicate that the line between human and god is an extremely thin one and thus gods cannot and are not that vastly different from their human counterparts. Indeed, throughout the journey of Gilgamesh we are confronted by gods and goddesses who are similar to humans in their desires and means of achieving them.
Only male citizens of Athens could vote on issues concerning the city and serve on juries. Female citizens, children, metics (foreigners presiding in Athens), and slaves were prohibited from participating in governing procedures. The purpose of this paper is to investigate current scholarly understanding of women in Classical Athens, the positions they held, and the way they were perceived in society at the time. My forthcoming analysis will also attempt to expand knowledge about Athenian women into a broader, more comprehensive picture using archaeological evidence related to funerary commemorations and
Athens and Sparta are at war. Lysistrata gathers women from all sides to propose a two-fold plan that will make the countries sign a peace treaty. The Women of the Chorus will take over the treasury and the other woman will go on a sex-strike. The women meet at the Akropolis, the treasury of Athens and temple of Athena. After Lysistrata convinces the women of the plan, they make an oath to the gods with wine while the Chorus of the Old Women take over the treasury.
I intend for the audience to leave the performance with a better understanding of gender and the effects they have on each other. I also would like them to leave knowing that people no matter their gender can create a change; all you need is the courage to stand up for what you think is right. I hope that the audience to appreciates Lysistrata as a strong powerful leader that people aspire to be. I would also hope that everyone would leave understanding the plot and enjoying my visual choices that I made to direct this
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest story known to mankind, being written on Sumerian clay almost five thousand years ago (Garone). Since the story was originally known orally, the culture and themes from The Epic of Gilgamesh must have existed long before it was finally inscribed (Mark 4). Having known this, the cultures and themes can be compared to today’s society, discovering about how they have shifted and evolved, and also observe how they are similar. The ancient days of Gilgamesh has brought culture that has greatly influenced today’s society. Because Gilgamesh was set around the time of late Babylonian or early Sumerian society, the Babylonian and Sumerian cultures also play a role in shaping the world into what is is today (Mark).
Lysistrata is a play that empowers women because it acknowledges women's power. Even if it is supposed to be a comedy, it has the female characters organizing, emphasizing their strengths, and in a number of places, getting concessions from the male characters. As an example, when Lysistrata says the women intend to control the treasury, and argues that they have the skills to do it based on their ability to manage household budgets, the Magistrate does not argue with their ability to manage money, he only argues that the Treasury is “different” because it pays for national defense. Many of the arguments against the women being able to manage are based on their gender alone. There are also quite a few clever insults toward men, like when
In Athens, women were considered sexually incompetent, they only controlled in the household. Most of the men admitted upon that women could not be granted a leadership position. However, it was women who inspired some of the best politicians. Therefore, they could do whatever they wanted as long as they did not break any laws. In reality, the woman of the house must leave everything against arriving of the husband.