Gender
Mark Knights October 2010
Women’s/feminist history
Joan Scott and gender as a ‘useful category of analysis’: gender as a construct
Other cross currents
Gender as a subject in its own right but also something that shaped attitudes on
a whole range of themes that we shall explore in the module
Religion
Witchcraft
Morality
Politics - patriarchalism (as much a social and gendered code as a political one):
the importance of the household
Science
Debate over women (‘querelle des femmes’)
Cheap literature debate - how serious?
Continuity and change: literacy, print and female authors
The Punish’d Atheist (late
C17th)
and likewise was resolv’d to try
if she his will would satisfye
An Atheist lived in the North,
Who underwent God’s heavy
wrath
through the blasphemous words he
spoke
which did his Maker much
provoke.
He being then with lust inflam’d
it seems he wasn’t the least
asham’d
to tempt this fair and virtuous
Bride
But Christian like she thus replied
His sister was a Lady fair,
whose beauty shin’d beyond
compare
a pious woman, eke was she
and wedded to a high degree.
At length he plac’d his chief
delight
in his fair sister’s beauty bright,
You strike me with astonishment
the Lord forbid I should consent
to such a hellish crying sin
which none but Sodom wallow’d
in.
Dear Brother, hear me what I say
Consider with yourself I pray,
can you indure the pains of hell
Or, with eternal torments dwell?
Said he, My loving sister dear
No God or Devil need you fear,
for there is no such thing I’m sure
nor any torments to endure.
I know they are but fancies then
writ by the wiser sort of men
to keep poor silly souls in awe
I’ll never be govern’d by that law.
These Words did so provoke the
Lord
that straight he sent him his reward
for while his sister from him
turn’d
a sulferous fire around him burn’d.
With staves they came to pull him
forth
but low his hands and fingers both
were so benumbed and swelled
withall
he could not help himselfe at all
He filled the skies with groans and
cries
till his blasphemous tongue and
eyes
with anguish dropt out of his head
at length the wretch fell down for
dead.
The fire quenched when as he fell
his carcass sent forth such a smell
that no one could the place endure
O this was heaven’s vengeance
sure.
Let all Blasphemers far and near
That shall this sad Relation hear
Repent, and bear these things in
mind
So may they Grace and mercy
find.
Anything for a Quiet Life: or the
married man’s bondage to a
curst wife. c. 1620
Any thing for a quiet life
a yong man faine would do;
to serve his master out his time
and please his mistris too
his bondage wisht for liberty
that he might have a wife
at his owne will, for to doe still
any thing for a quiet life.
In haste he chose himselfe then
one
and quickly was he wed
but crooked cares of household
charge
molested much his head.
His wedding shoes no sooner off
but his commanding wife
did make him pray and often say
any thing for a quiet life
His wife (yong lasse) grew wanton
sick
within a day or two
and long’d she knew not well for
what
as many women doe.
The daintiest things that could be
got
he gave unto his wife
and for her sake, did undertake
any thing for a quiet life.
At last her child-bed time drew on,
where money must be spent
In dainty lawnes and cambricks
fine
or else no way content.
Her house must be as well set out,
as any Citie wife:
thus filld with care he must not
spare
any thing for a quiet life
Thus after many a brave Carowse
upon her churching day
her tattling Gossips her perswade
in this her rich array
to take the comforts of the air
and pleasures of a wife
while he at home, stayes like a
mome,
any thing for a quiet life
His old acquaintance must he not
at any time go see;
except she grant and give him
leave
or there in presence be.
And then his purse he must yeeld
by
to his commanding wife
while he must say good woman
pay
any thing for a quiet life
Thus year by year he spent his
dayes,
in trouble and in cares
a warning fit for him which thus
himselfe to marriage snares.
The onely hell upon this earth
is to have an angry wife
to make us say both night and day
any thing for a quiet life
Let yong-men all take heed by this
how they doe match and marry
he leads a life of liberty
that doth the longest tarry.
It is the foremost step to woe
to wed unto a wife
that will have still, at her owne
will,
any thing for a quiet life