Is The Assemblywomen (Ecclesiazusae) by Aristophanes a proto-feminist play arguing on behalf of women's competence and intelligence and men's stupidity and vices? Or are there underlying misogynistic, sexist assumptions on Aristophanes part?

I always thought it was a parody on economics and government: men had made both awful, could it be worse? And of course, the excess of democracy (sharing women equally) was certainly a critique of Athean democracy by Asritophanes. It is hard to decipher "misogynistic, sexist assumptions" of Aristophanes, as in those times, women had no property, no vote, and no education. Most were married by 16 so they could get their advanced training on how to be a good woman from their husband and master.

Bobpursley is right. Aristophanes didn't write plays to tell exactly what was happening in society, like a photograph, if you will. He wrote political satire. His Lysistrata is another in which he uses women to satirize Greek society of the day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristophanes
This is a good summary of his life and works. Be sure to check out the See Also and External Links at the bottom of the webpage.

=)

it is a proto-feminist play

To analyze whether The Assemblywomen (Ecclesiazusae) by Aristophanes is a proto-feminist play or contains misogynistic and sexist assumptions, one must consider the play's context, themes, and interpretation by scholars.

1. Context: Understanding the historical and cultural context in which the play was written is essential. Aristophanes was an ancient Greek playwright, and his comedies were performed in Athens during the 5th century BCE. Athenian society was male-dominated, with limited roles and rights for women.

2. Plot and Themes: The Assemblywomen is a satirical play in which women, disguised as men, infiltrate the Athenian assembly to pass a series of radical laws aiming for an egalitarian society. The play satirizes both genders and critiques the flaws in Athenian society. The women in the play are portrayed as clever, capable, and as having better ideas for governing than the men. However, the play does not explicitly argue for the general competence and intelligence of women or the stupidity and vices of men.

3. Interpretation: Scholars have interpreted The Assemblywomen in different ways. Some argue that Aristophanes intended to challenge gender norms by showing women as intelligent and capable, which could be seen as proto-feminist ideas. Others suggest that the play was primarily meant to entertain the audience and should not be considered a feminist or misogynistic statement.

To further explore these perspectives and arrive at an informed conclusion, you may consider reading scholarly articles, analyzing Aristophanes' broader body of work, and exploring different theatrical and historical interpretations of The Assemblywomen.