Genre
Comedy
Language
Greek
Setting and Context
Greece 391 BC
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Praxagora
Tone and Mood
Comedic, dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Praxagora. Antagonist is the Assembly
Major Conflict
Praxagora wants the Assembly to allow women to rule as they would be better suited to doing so than the men.
Climax
The women win the vote to be in power and the “ugly” of the city begin to prey upon the beautiful in order that they would follow the statute that beautiful people must sleep with the ugly before they can be with anyone beautiful.
Foreshadowing
Praxagora’s speech foreshadows her winning over the Assembly.
Understatement
It is understated that the women represent the Republic leadership and their lack of strength in their ability to govern a people.
Allusions
The play is an allusion to the Republic being in danger as it is lead by weak men.
Imagery
Lantern swinging in the dark.
Paradox
The women win the ability to rule, but paradoxically their statutes cause the people to act in an unruly manner; we see this in the elderly woman demanding that the young man sleep with her.
Parallelism
Praxagora practicing her speech and winning over the women parallels her winning over the entire Assembly.
Personification
The people of the Republic become the personification of lust at the end of the play.
Use of Dramatic Devices
The Chorus of women that follow and support Praxagora.
