Inversion

I'll start by stating the obvious: Lysistrata is the leader of the abstinence movement. Of course she is, if she weren't the play wouldn't be named after her. The fact that she is the leader of the movement puts her in a unique position among the women. It places her into a role typically reserved for men, a role of power. I don't think that this alone is anything too interesting, after all many women have been in this type of position through out history. What I found intersting about it was the fact that Lysistrata almost becomes too masculine in her role. For instance, on page 21 Lysistrata says

"Hello, Lampito dear. Why darling, you're simply ravishing! Such a blemishless complexion-so clean, so out-of-doors! And will you look at that figure-the pink of perfection!"

Here she has not only gained some masculinity from her power, but executed a nearly complete inversion of traditional gender roles, and is appraising Lampito much the same as a man might. I think that Lysistrata's ability to accquire the traits of the traditional man are a large part of what allowed her to keep the boycott alive and ultimately achieve peace.