—Anonymous
For one to be considered great, it has to be considerably above the normal or average. Any literature can be good, but it’s different for a literature to be considered a “Great Work.” In order for a story to be considered a “Great Work”, it must have lessons that pertain to one’s life no matter how long ago the story was told. An ancient Greek comedy, Lysistrata, written by Aristophanes matches this quality. In Lysistrata, the women wanted to create peace and unity in Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Their methods involved refusing to provide sex to their husbands. A couple of lessons were told throughout this literature. For example, the importance of peace and unity, and that women are worthy and capable of having power in a society. A “Great Work” should also be read by many, and for the readers to be moved and inspired. It should challenge the readers, and push them to look at the world differently. Lysistrata touched me personally in a couple of ways. It reminded me of the importance of women in my life and how impactful they are. It also reminded me to not underestimate any groups of people. The men in Lysistrata overlooked the women, viewing them as only capable of watching over the house. However, until the women took action, the men were able to understand and experience the women’s other capabilities outside of the house. On the other hand, Lysistrata spoke to me in another way. As an Asian American, we are seen as the minority. This may seem biased, but society doesn’t see us as capable of being able to hold high political positions, such as becoming a president. Similar to the women in Lysistrata, with unity and dedication, we can show our capabilities. As I read this text, I was able to put these words into images. It felt as if I was watching the play in person. For this piece of literature that was written thousands of years ago to touch me in such an impactful way, and allow me to experience this comedy play, Lysistrata is definitely considered a “Great Work” of literature. Lysistrata is monumental in its influence over its audience. It has impacted readers in an extremely powerful way.
