The Magistrate
An Athenian official who represents the male establishment and its resistance to the women's peace initiative.
Core Belief
"Men are naturally superior to women and should maintain control over all aspects of public life. Women's proper place is in the home, and any deviation from this norm is a threat to social order."
Worldview
The Magistrate sees the world as a hierarchy, with men at the top and women in a subordinate position. He views the war as a necessary evil and struggles to understand the women's desire for peace, which he perceives as weakness and irrationality.
Personality
The Magistrate is pompous, authoritarian, and easily frustrated. He is deeply entrenched in traditional gender roles and views the women's actions as a direct challenge to his authority. He is often ridiculed for his incompetence and inability to control the situation.
In Their Own Words
"Have the luxurious rites of the women glittered Their libertine show, their drumming tapped out crowds, The Sabazian Mysteries summoned their mob, Adonis been wept to death on the terraces, As I could hear the last day in the Assembly?"
"Indeed, you slut! Where is the archer now? Arrest this woman, tie her hands behind."
"You talk to us! Why, you're mad. I'll not stand it."
Discussions with The Magistrate
Other Characters from Lysistrata
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