How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #1
Calonice: "And what if they grab us and drag us into the bedroom by force?"
Lysistrata: "Hold onto the door."
Calonice: "And what if they beat us?"
Lysistrata: "Then submit, but disagreeably: men get no pleasure in sex when they have to force you. And make them suffer in other ways as well. Don't worry, they'll soon give in. No husband can have a happy life if his wife doesn't want him to." (160-166)
As in any strike, one of the most important ingredients of success in the women's sex-strike is sheer perseverance. Perseverance is especially necessary because those who disagree with the strike—that is, the men who want to have sex with their wives—are likely to use any means necessary to try to oppose it. In these lines, we see Calonice expressing fear about what might happen if the men use violence to try to rape the women. Lysistrata's response is, yup, perseverance. Persevere as long as possible physically, and then persevere mentally.
Quote #2
Lysistrata: "No man of any kind, lover or husband—"
Calonice: "No man of any kind, lover or husband—"
Lysistrata: "shall approach me with a hard-on. Speak up!"
Calonice: "Shall approach me with a hard-on. Oh god, my knees are buckling, Lysistrata!"
Lysistrata: "At home in celibacy shall I pass my life—"
Calonice: "At home in celibacy shall I pass my life—"
Lysistrata: "wearing a saffron robe and all dolled up—"
Calonice: "wearing a saffron robe and all dolled up—"
Lysistrata: "so that my husband will get as hot as a volcano for me—"
Calonice: "so that my husband will get as hot as a volcano for me—"
Lysistrata: "but never willingly shall I surrender to my husband."
Calonice: "but never willingly shall I surrender to my husband." (212-224)
Heck, it takes perseverance even to get through this oath. But seriously, what Lysistrata is getting the women to sign on to is total steadfastness. The way Lysistrata sees it, if the women absolutely refuse to have sex with their husbands, without exceptions, the men will eventually have to give in.
Quote #3
Lysistrata: "If he should use force to force me against my will—"
Calonice: "If he should use force to force me against my will—"
Lysistrata: "I will submit coldly and not move my hips."
Calonice: "I will submit coldly and not move my hips."
Lysistrata: "I will not raise my Persian slippers toward the ceiling."
Calonice: "I will not raise my Persian slippers toward the ceiling."
Lysistrata: "I won't crouch down like the lioness on the cheesegrater."
Calonice: "I won't crouch down like the lioness on the cheesegrater."
Lysistrata: "If I live up to these vows, may I drink from this cup."
Calonice: "If I live up to these vows, may I drink from this cup."
Lysistrata: "But if I break them, may the cup be full of water."
Calonice: "But if I break them, may the cup be full of water." (225-236)
Okay, we're not even going to speculate about what the whole "lioness on the cheesegrater" sexual position might be about. Mainly because that's not the point right now. The point is that the oath Lysistrata is making the women take is even longer than we thought. Here, once again, perseverance is a major part of the oath's message. Even if the men use violence against the women, the women still shouldn't give in. Instead, they should use nonviolent resistance; anything to keep the strike going.