Knox, John and Marwin A. Breslow. "The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women." The Political Writings of
John Knox. Washington: Folger Shakespeare Libr., 1985. 37-80. Print.
“The Political Writings of John Knox” were a collection of his writings from the time 1505-1572. In this book that was published in the United States in 1985, is a chapter called The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women”. This section is his response to some of the writings during this time about the idea of women being equal and even superior to men. This idea caused such a backlash from this writer, in this section he goes into detail about how and why women are inferior to men. The writing is primary religious, so it is coming from that context, which is appropriate, because Early Modern English society was Christian. This one part was written in 1558 as a response to women becoming “unruly”, being educated, and speaking out more. What is interesting is that Macbeth was believed to been written in 1606 which is only 40 years after John Knox’s heated rebuttal about the inferior nature of women, and Lady Macbeth shortly after represents a women quite contrary to Knox’s interpretation. Knox writes from a religious point of view and is not simply speaking to married women but in fact to all "women of Eve", that they are the farther from the perfection of God (coming from Adam),and because of this must submit to man. He states, “First, I say that woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man, not to rule and command him” (45). This very well may be the thesis of this entire essay, he bases his argument on scripture, and also on the writings of the Tertullian, Augustine, and a few other religious men from history. There is a focus on a woman being submissive that is linked to not commanding or ruling a man which is the exact opposite of Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. These writings would have been a controversial and hot topic of the time.
Antique Print of Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare's Macbeth, engraving circa 1860
This engraving of Lady Macbeth is an antique print from 1860. This is a painting that is based off act 2 scene 2 in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth has to take the bloody daggers from Macbeth and take them out of the room. This painting depicts Lady Macbeth in a powerful way. Although this engraving is different than some other depictions of Lady Macbeth where she looks less feminine. This engraving makes her look young beautiful, and yet fierce. Her facial expression is one of anger and boldness along with the way she is holding her body. This piece was important to use because it describes her as fully women and also fully man in characteristics. Her body holding the feminine characteristics and her expression, posture and action of holding the bloody dagger all suggest more masculine characteristics.
Gouge, William. "Of Domesticall Duties [electronic Resource] : Eight Treatises. I. An Exposition of That Part of Scripture out of Which
Domesticall Duties Are Raised. ...VIII. Duties of Masters." Early English Books Online. N.p., 2003. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
This treatise, written by William Gouge (1578-1653) was published in 1622. This treatise has a few different sections but the one that I am focusing on is treatise III called Particular Duties of Wives. Within this section are simply 12 rules that were stated for wives. Alot of these are directly linked to the way that women were expected to act and the fact that they were so shamed if they spoke out against their husbands. Laws 1 and 5 both speak directly to "unruly" women and prohibit outspoken behavior: 1."Acknowledgement of a husband's authority" and 5."Reverent speech to and of her husband". Both of these laws directly correlate to women of Early Modern England, but it also effects the way we perceive Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth". The part that I am focusing on and quoting is a shorter part of this entire piece. The rest of the piece talks about duties of the husband, of children, and parents. And so this piece addresses the domestic life. But reading it from a modern perspective really reveals the patriarchal structure and mentality that framed laws like these.
Crouch, Humphrey, and George Mason. "A Kinde Husband's Advice to His Wife." Loves Court of Conscience Written upon Two Severall
Occasions, with New Lessons for Lovers. Wherunto Is Annexed a Kinde Husband's Advice to His Wife. By Humfrey Crowch. London:
Printed [by T. Harper] for Richard Harper, and Are to Be Sold at His Shop in Smithfield, at the Hospitall Gate, 1637. 8-13. Web. 30 Apr.
2013.
"Love's Court of Conscience" Is a collection of Humfrey's ballads originally printed in London in 1637. These Ballads were ones that describe the overly talkative wife in a humorousness way through poetry and ballads. the important thing to note, is that during this time that women were shamed for being overly talkative and commanding of their husbands, during the same time that laws were being made about the duties of wives men writers were being paid for the publishing of humorous ballads and such about these "unruly" women.
Specifically there is one ballad in particular that is a "humorous" ballad that is called, "A Kind Husband's advice to His Wife." This is a long ballad and is as much serious as it is comedic. He goes on and on telling the woman her place in the house and as a submissive wife. This ballad focuses on a woman's speech and how she should not command her husband. It refers to Sarah in the bible who called Abraham her "Lord", and how the husband is lord over his wife. He says "Woman was made to comfort not command" (15). And this in a way sums up this ballad. This Ballad directly relates to the other primary sources but it further shows the bold character that Lady Macbeth is compared to the restraints of women during this time.
John Knox. Washington: Folger Shakespeare Libr., 1985. 37-80. Print.
“The Political Writings of John Knox” were a collection of his writings from the time 1505-1572. In this book that was published in the United States in 1985, is a chapter called The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women”. This section is his response to some of the writings during this time about the idea of women being equal and even superior to men. This idea caused such a backlash from this writer, in this section he goes into detail about how and why women are inferior to men. The writing is primary religious, so it is coming from that context, which is appropriate, because Early Modern English society was Christian. This one part was written in 1558 as a response to women becoming “unruly”, being educated, and speaking out more. What is interesting is that Macbeth was believed to been written in 1606 which is only 40 years after John Knox’s heated rebuttal about the inferior nature of women, and Lady Macbeth shortly after represents a women quite contrary to Knox’s interpretation. Knox writes from a religious point of view and is not simply speaking to married women but in fact to all "women of Eve", that they are the farther from the perfection of God (coming from Adam),and because of this must submit to man. He states, “First, I say that woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man, not to rule and command him” (45). This very well may be the thesis of this entire essay, he bases his argument on scripture, and also on the writings of the Tertullian, Augustine, and a few other religious men from history. There is a focus on a woman being submissive that is linked to not commanding or ruling a man which is the exact opposite of Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. These writings would have been a controversial and hot topic of the time.
Antique Print of Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare's Macbeth, engraving circa 1860
This engraving of Lady Macbeth is an antique print from 1860. This is a painting that is based off act 2 scene 2 in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth has to take the bloody daggers from Macbeth and take them out of the room. This painting depicts Lady Macbeth in a powerful way. Although this engraving is different than some other depictions of Lady Macbeth where she looks less feminine. This engraving makes her look young beautiful, and yet fierce. Her facial expression is one of anger and boldness along with the way she is holding her body. This piece was important to use because it describes her as fully women and also fully man in characteristics. Her body holding the feminine characteristics and her expression, posture and action of holding the bloody dagger all suggest more masculine characteristics.
Gouge, William. "Of Domesticall Duties [electronic Resource] : Eight Treatises. I. An Exposition of That Part of Scripture out of Which
Domesticall Duties Are Raised. ...VIII. Duties of Masters." Early English Books Online. N.p., 2003. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
This treatise, written by William Gouge (1578-1653) was published in 1622. This treatise has a few different sections but the one that I am focusing on is treatise III called Particular Duties of Wives. Within this section are simply 12 rules that were stated for wives. Alot of these are directly linked to the way that women were expected to act and the fact that they were so shamed if they spoke out against their husbands. Laws 1 and 5 both speak directly to "unruly" women and prohibit outspoken behavior: 1."Acknowledgement of a husband's authority" and 5."Reverent speech to and of her husband". Both of these laws directly correlate to women of Early Modern England, but it also effects the way we perceive Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth". The part that I am focusing on and quoting is a shorter part of this entire piece. The rest of the piece talks about duties of the husband, of children, and parents. And so this piece addresses the domestic life. But reading it from a modern perspective really reveals the patriarchal structure and mentality that framed laws like these.
Crouch, Humphrey, and George Mason. "A Kinde Husband's Advice to His Wife." Loves Court of Conscience Written upon Two Severall
Occasions, with New Lessons for Lovers. Wherunto Is Annexed a Kinde Husband's Advice to His Wife. By Humfrey Crowch. London:
Printed [by T. Harper] for Richard Harper, and Are to Be Sold at His Shop in Smithfield, at the Hospitall Gate, 1637. 8-13. Web. 30 Apr.
2013.
"Love's Court of Conscience" Is a collection of Humfrey's ballads originally printed in London in 1637. These Ballads were ones that describe the overly talkative wife in a humorousness way through poetry and ballads. the important thing to note, is that during this time that women were shamed for being overly talkative and commanding of their husbands, during the same time that laws were being made about the duties of wives men writers were being paid for the publishing of humorous ballads and such about these "unruly" women.
Specifically there is one ballad in particular that is a "humorous" ballad that is called, "A Kind Husband's advice to His Wife." This is a long ballad and is as much serious as it is comedic. He goes on and on telling the woman her place in the house and as a submissive wife. This ballad focuses on a woman's speech and how she should not command her husband. It refers to Sarah in the bible who called Abraham her "Lord", and how the husband is lord over his wife. He says "Woman was made to comfort not command" (15). And this in a way sums up this ballad. This Ballad directly relates to the other primary sources but it further shows the bold character that Lady Macbeth is compared to the restraints of women during this time.
Joel Dorman Steele and Esther Baker Steele,"Engraving of a scold's bridle
and New England street scene" A Brief History of the United
States , 1885
This Engraving is similar to the one used on the cover of Suzanne Hull's book Women According to Men But, it is different in the sense that this woman is clearly not only a wife but a mother as well, with the child crying in her dress, as if horrified at the strange device over her mother's face. It is interesting that all of the people in this picture are all women, both younger and the older women. It seems as if the young ones standing straight are representing quiet and gentle women (the desired woman of this time). The dress seems to model the middle to lower class of Early Modern England which is significant. It is important because although lower class might not be involved with the higher up political and religious writings of the time, they were certainly aware of the ballads and the humorous writings of Shakespeare about talkative women during this time. Although this painting does not depict this treatment of women as humorous, instead it is very solemn. This Engraving depicts perfectly the controversy heaviness within the laws and patriarchal mentality circulating during this time about silencing women.