It stands to reason even in modern times doesn’t it? As Joe Brand reminds us, it’s that darned penis that prevents men from doing so much. Society believed the Aristotelian dictum that women are nothing more than ‘deformed men’. They really took the whole ‘Eve’ thing very seriously back then. Anyway, back to the 1300’s, nuns were ‘brides of Christ’ and who am I to argue with that? The best thing to be was a widow or an old spinster because they were the only ones who had any degree independence. I think this started to change in the 1970’s? Not sure ask yisser mammies. She could not borrow money, sell property or make a will without his consent. She could not, apparently, resist his sexual advances. Her status depended on the man who supported her so, for the maiden that was her father. You could be a maiden, a wife, a nun or a widow. In the 1300’s women were described only by their marital state, or lack of it. Here’s a little taster on women just to pique your interest. And as for the jiggery pokery that passed for medicine, let’s just say, a short and brutal life would have been preferable. Their idea of an appetiser would have sent me straight to the great white telephone, or its medieval equivalent. I won’t be a spoil sport and tell you too much about health and hygiene or food and drink in the Middle Ages. National Emerging Writer Programme Overview.
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