Kobe Shoin Women’s University Repository
Title
The Cuckold Tradition as Received by the English
Renaissance
Author(s)
Ronald St. Pierre
Citation
Shoin Literary Review，No.18：19-41
Issue Date
1984
Resource Type
Bulletin Paper / 紀要論文
Resource Version
URL
Right
TheCuckoldTradition'`
asReceivedby
theEnglishRenaissance
RonaldSt.Pierre
WellbeforetheEnglishRenaissance,thecuckoldwasestablished inEnglandandonthecontinentasoneofthemostpopularcomic figures.ReadersandaudiencesfromthefirstcenturyA.D.uptoand beyondShakespeare'stimedelightedincuckoldstories.FromApu- leius'sGoldenAss(114A.D.),whichincludesperhapsthefirstantho-Logyofcuckoldstories,throughinnumerablefabliaux,medieval comictales,earlyRenaissancecomicdramas,andotherformsofpoet-n'andprosefiction,thecuckold'shornsweredisplayed,andinthe processoftellingandretellingthecuckold'staleacomplexofideas, injunctions,stereotypesandethicalnotionsattachedthemselvesto thecuckold,hiswifeandherparamourcreating,asIintendtoargue, alegitimatetraditioninliterature.Failuretorecognizetheliterature ofcuckoldryasadistincttraditioninliteraturehascausedsomecri-ticstoignoreimportantthemesfoundinliterature,andothercritics toseverelymisreadcertainworks.Forinstance,CoppeliaKahnhas recentlyusedreferencestocuckoldryinShakespearetoillustrate theanti・feministnotionsincludedintheloreofcuckoldry,(1)Although (1)IintendtorefuteKhan's"'TheSavageYoke':CuckoldryandMar-riage,"inMan'sEstate・'Masculine.ldentityinShakespeare(Berkeley: UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1981)inasubsequentarticle. -19一I thenotionsKahnoutlinesarefirmlyfixedinthecuckoldtradition, Shakespeare'soveralluseoftheloreofcuckoldryisradicallyatypical, tendingtocallstereotypesintoquestion.Recognitionofthecuck- oldtraditionasreceivedbyShakespeareisessentialifwearetopra-perlyunderstandtheliteratureofcuckoldryinRenaissanceEngland anditssubsequentdevelopment. Althoughitsetymologyisbynomeansclear,theword"cuckold" issaidtoderivefromthecuckoobird'spracticeoflayingitseggsin thenestsofotherbirds,thewordcomingbysomelinguisticreversal toapplynottotheparamourwhoenlargedthenest,buttothehus- bandwhofindshisnestexpanded.Theword"cuckold"may,how-ever,havebeensecuredonthecuckoldalongwithhishorns.The OxfordEnglishDictionarytellsustheygrewasaresultof"theprac- ticeformerlyprevalent[inlateancientGreece]ofplantingoren-graftingthespursofacastratedcockontherootsoftheexcised comb,wheretheygrewandbecamehornssometimesofseveral incheslong,"theword"cuckold"originatingfromtheGreekword meaning"capon."(2)Certainly,thepotentandlordlyエooster,110wa capon,struttingcastrated,hornedandimpotentamonghisnewly servedchickenharemseemedanobviousbuttforlaughterandavivid imageofawrongedhusbandinasocietylikethatoflateancient Greecewhichheldwivestobeundisputedpossessionsoftheirhus-bands.Whatevertheoriginoftheword"cuckold"andthecuckold's horn's,imaginativelybytheagencyofhiswife'sinfidelitythecuck-oldcametobeseenastransformedintoahornedbeast. Thedeprecatoryappellation"cuckold"andthechimericalhorns became,inthecourseoftime,habitualmarksofthedisgracehus-bandscametobearasaresultoftheirwives'transgressionandthe (2)"Horn,"OxfordCompactEnglishDictionary(1971).
sourceofinfinitepunning,jestingandlaughing.Thefigureofthe hornedcuckoldwassoimaginativelyvividalegionofimagessea-sonedhim.Heborecountlessreferencestohishead,forehead,crest, orhead-piecebeingforked,branched,featheredorhornedwithabun-da皿ce,plenty,destiny,suretyship,orfidelity.(a)Hewassurrounded byhornshavings,horn-makers,headsmanandcuckoobirds,cuckoo flowersorcuckoo-makers.Ifheknewandcountenancedhiswife's adulterywascalleda"wittol"(thoughthiswordwasoftenlooselyap- pliedtoanyobviouscuckold).HehadbothSt.CuccouandSt.Ar-noldforpatronsaints.HispagandeitywasVulcan,theonlyGreco/ Romangodwhosewifewasunfaithful,andhewasthoughttore-sembleActaeonwhowashorned,albietnotbyhiswife,butbyDiana whombesawnaked.ωHecould,ifheneededsanctuary ,jointhe othersstrickenwiththeforkedplaguebyretreatingtoCuckold's Haven. Sustasthelanguageofcuckoldryprovedfertileandprolificin literaryproduction,sotoodidthestereotypesattachedtomembers ofthecuckoldrytriangle.Chaucer's"Miller'sTale"(ca.1388-89)will serveasanexampleofthestereotypesandtheirfecundity .(5)As soonasthedrunkenMillerannounceshewilltell"ofacarpenterand ofhiswyf./Howthataclerkhathsetthewrightscappe"(3142-3143}, theReeveobjects,"Latbethyleveeddronkenharlotrye./ltisasynne (3)ForthemeaningandsourcesoftheseandthefollowingtermsseeEric Partridge,5'昭 舵5加 郡rゴ君 β催,め1(N館wYorks:E.P.Dutton,1969)and/or
JamesT・Hinkq冊 ε,aaissa,,`6・[殆w柵6'飴 凸飢 ず'め,(ExclusiveofShakespeare)' ・4"11π πo'a#edG'OSSCIYy心,tdCr川`副C/3例 剋f9'(Salzburg,Austria:1皿sti-tutfurEnglischeSpracheandLiterature,1974). (4}G.Bullough,NarrativeandDramaticSourcesofShakespeare,Vol.II (London:RoutledgeandPaul,1957-1963),pp.16-18. (5)AllquotationsfromChauceraretakenfromTheCompletePoetryand ProseofGeoffreyChaucer,ed.JohnJ.Fisher(NewYork:Holt,Rinehart andWinston,1977).Linenumbersfromthiseditionwillbegiveninthe text. -21一
andeekagreetfolye/Toapeyrenanyman,orhimdefame,/Andeek tobryngenwyvesinsuchfame"(3145-48).Onthesurface,Osewold theReevearguesthatthetalewilldefamethecarpenterinthestory andwivesingeneral.Clearly,Osewoldperceiveshowthestoryof onewoman'stransgressionreflectsonallwomen.Thatonewoman iscapableofhorningherhusbandimpliestohismindallwomen sharethispropensity.Beneaththesurface,however,4sewoldde- fendshimself.HeisnotsomuchconcernedtheMiller'stalewillde-famethecarpenterofthetaleorwivesingeneralasheisconcerned thechargeofbeingacuckoldwillextendtohimself.Witness,here, thewonderfulfecundityofthechargeofbeingcuckolded.Asingle instanceofonefictionalcharacterbrandedbyhiswifechargesall womencuckold-makersandallhusbands‐hereofthesameprofes-sion‐cuckolds. TheMillerdefendshistalebydenyingthatallmenarecuckolds. EventhoughtheMillerputsforwardtheaxiomthat"Whohathno wyf,heisnocokewold,"still,heinsistssomemarriedmenmaynot becuckolds.Heaffirmsthereare"everathousandgoode[wives] ayaynsonnbadde"(3152-3155).TheMiller'sconclusion,however, takesanironictwist."IwolbilevewellthatIamnoon,"heasserts, continuing: Anhousbondshalnatbeeninquisitif OfGoddesPryvetee,norofhiswyf. SohemayfyndeGoddesfoysonthere, Oftheremenantnedethnatenquere. (3162-3166} TheMiller'sfaithisnotbasedonanypersonaltrustbetweenhimself
ド
andhiswife;rather,heassertsthathe"wol"believewhathewishes tobelieve.Hearguesthevalueofignorance.Oneshouldnotlook intothedoingsofGod,norofone'swife,andsincethesexualwealth awifecangiveshouldsatisfyahusband,whyworryifthereissome leftoverforothers.TheMillerarguesmenshouldbelievethem- selvesuncuckolded,andtoleratetherewives'misbehaviorbyignor-ingit. The"Miller'sfiale"itselfdepictsstereotypicalcuckoldrycharacters . Thecarpenterisrude,old,jealousandbecausehe"demedhimself ... likeacokewold"(3226},hekeepshiswife"Narweincage"(3221-3226).HiswifeAlisoun,besidesbeinglovely,is"youngandwylde" (3225),having"alikerous[sexy]eye"(3244),and"Wybsynge[skit-fish]...asisajolt'colt,"sothatnomanhoweverwisecouldfind "Sogayapopeloteofswichawenche"(3253 -3254) .Thiscombina- tionofabeautiful,gay,merry,freespiritwithasexualsparkat-tractstwopotentialparamours:aclerkNicholaswhoisrentinga aroomfromthecarpenter,andAbsoion,theparishclerk.Nicholas' firstapproachestoAlisounarespurned,butsoonhisfairspeechand dispatchweakensher.AbsoionalsowoosAlisounwithgiftsand serenadesthoughwithnosuccess,proving,accordingtothenarrator, thesaw,"`Alweythenyestye/MarkeththeferreleevetoTooth"' (3392-3393). TheactionofthetaletellsofNicholas'andAlisoun'sefforts: Thisselyjaloushusbandtobigyle, Andifsobethegamewentearight, Sheshouldeslepeninhisarm,alnyght, Forthiswashisdesirandhirealso. (34α レ3407) -23一Andsoitworksout,thoughall,savethewife,suffertosomedegree. 'Thecarpenterisdeclar ed"wood"byhisownbrother,andthere-.. mainderissummedupbythenarratorasfollows Thusswyvedwasthiscarpenteriswyf, Foralhiskepyngandhisjealousye, AndAbsolonhathkisthernethereye, AndNicholasisscaledinthetowte. (3850-3853) Nicholas'andAlisoun'sdesireforadulteroussexualpleasureiscele- bratedinthistale,asisthedupingofthefoolish,jealousoldhus-band.Thepainsdoledoutseeminnowayretributionforsins,but humoroustrifles,partofthefunforthenarratorandauditors.The husband'seffortstoavoidbeinghornedareuseless,andinfacthis supposedsearchingsinto"Goddespryvatee"(see345)resultinhis owncuckolding.Thistalerevealsthefoolishnessofjealousyandof effortstoavoidbeingcuckolded.Itisbettertojustletbe. Inthenexttale,theReevexevengeshimselfontheMillerbyalso utilizingtheuniversalapplicabilityofacuckoldtale.Ineffect,he callstheMiller"cuckold"bytellingataleinvolvinganothermiller cuckolded.Sojustasthetalestellofmen'srivalriesinloveandre-vengesforcuckoldry,thetalesthemselvesaretoldasmutualcharges ofcuckoldryinaseriesofrivariesandrevenges. Chaucer's"Miller'sTale"providesanepitomeofthecuckold traditionandshowshowthestereotypesfoundincuckoldryare easilyextendedtoapplytovirtuallyeverryone.Medievalcomictales andfabliaux,BoccaccianandotherRenaissanceprose,anddrama suchasMachiavelli'sLaMandragola(ca.1513)andJohnHeywood's
AMerryPlay(」.533-34}allusecuckoldryinsimilarways.Almost exclusivelyincomicgenres,theearlycuckoldtraditioncelebrated themischievous,amorousandbawdyfuninvolvedincuckoldry.The ideaofahornedhusbandbecameauniversalsubjectoflaughter. Wifelyadultery,undertakentosatisfyawifeandherparamour's amorousorsexualdesires,waspresentedasneithersinfulnorespe-ciallydestructivetomarriage.Thecuckoldtraditiontoleratedthese desiresinwivesandyoungmen,encouragedtheirfulfillment,warned husbandsnottointerferenorbejealous,whilelaughingatthevain effortsofthosefoolishhusbandswhotrytoavoidbeingcuckolded. Asaresult,talesofcuckoldryfocusedonthewifeand/orherpara-mourandupontheirplotsagainstthefoolish,oldhusband. DuringShakespeare'stime,storiesofcuckoldrycouldbefoundin prose,poetryanddrama,eachtalerelyingmoreorlessonthecon-ventionalplotsandloreofcuckoldry.Storiesthemselvesvaried enormouslythoughscoresofplots,plotdevicesandcharactertraits recuragainandagain.Theplotconventionsbydefinitionrevolve aroundtherealorsuspectedinfidelityofawife,alongwithanumber ofothercommonplaceswhichmayormaynotbeutilized.These mayincludetheactualinvolvementofthecuckoldinunitingthe paramours{whatcouldbetermedthe"wittoltheme"),theeffortsof apandertoarrangeameeting,andeitheraninitialrefusalbythe wifeoranexchangeofflirtationslooksbetweenthewifeandthe paramourengenderingloveinthemboth.Afterthewifeandher paramourconsummatetheiraffair,thehusband'ssuspicionorhisdis-coveryofitusuallyfollows,causinghimtoattempttouncoverproofs ofwrongdoingorcatchtheminflagyantedelicto.Despitethehus- band'sefforts,theparamourusuallyescapes.Theconclusioncanin-volvetheparamour's.discoveryoftheidentityofthecuckold,often -25一
followedbyhisrepentanceandexit,orthehusbandcanbefooled intobelievingagainstproofthatanywrongdoinghasoccured.In suchacase,hemaylosehisjealousyandtheadulterycancontinue indefinitelyorwithimpunityfortheonetime.Alternatively,some-thingtragicmayoccurintheend,usuallycausedbythecuckold's jealousyanddesireforrevenge,involvinginmanycasesthedeathof theadulterouswife. Thissurveycertainlydoesnotexhausttheconventionsofplotin- herentinthecuckoldtraditionthoughitdoesoutlinethemajorop-tionsinplotthatauthorsutilizedandaudiencesanticipated.In analyzinganyparticularstoryofcuckoldryitsactionought,there-fore,tobecomparedwithbothitsimmediatesourceandwiththe conventionalcuckoldryplotthataudiencesandauthorswouldbewell versedin.Futhermore,besidestheuseofacommonlanguageof cuckoldryandtheemploymentofavariationoftheplotasoutlined above,talesofcuckoldrypresentedcharactersinvolvedinthecuck-oldrytrianglewhoareremarkablyconsistentintheirpsychology. Thecentralfigureinthecuckoldrytriangleis,ofcoursethecuck- oldhimself,whosemostoutstandingfeatureishisjealousy,thepsy-chologyofwhichisoutlinedinfullestdetailinVarchi'sBlazonof jealousy(1560)translatedwithnotesbyRobertToftein1615,though theItaliantractwasknowninEnglandbyShakespeare'stime.(6) VarchiseesjealousyarisingfromLove,thestrongestpassionfrom whichallotherpassionsproceed."Someofthesepassions"exceed (beyondallcomparison,)allotherTorments,andTortureswhat-(6)LilyB.Campbell,Shakespeare'sTragicHeroes(NewYork;Barnesand Noble,1934),p.150. (7)BenedettoVarchi,Blazonofjealousie,trans.R.T.[ofte](London:Print-edbyT.S.forSohnBushie,1615),pp.3-4.
soever,"theworstofthesebeing"passing・pleasingandsweet,inre- spectofthatonedamnedFeare,orHellishSuspect,orratherun-curablePlague,anddeadlypoyson,clepedIealousie."(8)Ingeneral, jealousyisdefinedas"acertaineagerandernestDesiretoenjoya Beautyofonealonebyhimselfonely,"ormorefully,"acertain FeareorDoubt,leastanyonewhomwewouldnot,shouldenjoya Beautythatweemakeaccountof;and,this,fortwoReasons,eyther becauseweeourselveswouldenjoythesamealone,orelse,thatsuch aoneaswelikeanddesire,mighthavethesolefruitionandposses-sionthereof."(9)Therearefourways,Varchisuggeststhatjealousy arises:"Byreason(1)OfPleasure,(2}OfPassion,(3)OrPropertyor Right,(4)OrHonor."(10)Byreasonofpleasure,Varchimeans,the individualwishes"allthePleasureofone";byreasonofpassion,the jealousmanwantswhathemostloves;bypropertyorright,he wantstopossesssomeone"wholly"andinthiscasewhenitseems asifother"merchants"haveenjoyedthewoman,hewishestogive herupentirelyandquenchthejealousyandthelovethatwasthere before."'Finallybyreasonofhonor,thejealousmanistenderof hishonoraccordingtohisstationinlifeandnationalcustom.In thisregard,southernnationsespeciallythePersiansandItaliansare singledoutasespeciallypronetojealousy.(12) Theresultsofjealousy,Varchisuggests,areofferedbyAriostoin Canto13,Stanza50fOrlandoFurioso:"suspicion,fear,martyring [accordingtoTofte,innertortureofmindandbody],frenzy,["dis-temperatureofthebraine"(13)],andmadness["afuriouspassionthat (8)Varchi,p.5. (9)Varchi,p.12. (10)Varchi,p.16. (11)Varchi,p.20. (12)Varchi,pp.22-23. (13)Varchi,p.11. 一一27一
' takethawayrightSensesandWiteforeuer"(14)].(15)In1621 ,Robert BurtonfillsinthelistofsymptomsbyquotingGalen:anunrelieved jealousindividualwill"proceedfromsuspiciontohatred,fromha- tredtofrenzy,madness,injury,murder,anddespair."≪s'Thephy-sisalsignsofjealousyarealsoenumeratedbyBurton: 'Tispropertojealousysotodo , PaleHag,infernalfury,pleasure'ssmart, Envy'sobserver,pryingineverypart Besidesthosestrangegesturesofstarting,frowning,grin-Wing,rolling,ofeyes,menacing,ghastlyeyes,brokenpace interruptprecipitatehalf-turns.Hewillsometimessigh, weep,sobforanger,...swearandbelie,slanderanyman, curse,threaten,brawl,scold,fight;andsometimesagain flatterandspeakfair,askforgiveness,kissandtoll,con-demnhisrashnessandfolly,vowprotest,andswearhewill neverdosoagain;andtheneftsoons,impatientasheis,rave, roar,andlayabouthimlikeamadman,thumphersides, dragheraboutperchance,driveheroutofdoors,sendher home,hewillbedivorcedforthwith,sheisawhore,etc ....C17' Varchiwritesmorebrieflythatifwisdom,patienceordiscretionfail , jealousyburnsintoahatred,toafrenzy,tomadnessandisfinally directedagainstthewife,herparamouroranywhofosterthejea-lousy.Theresultisoftenmurder. (14)Varchi,p.11. (15)Varchi,pp.10-11. (16)RobertBurton,TheAnatomyofMelancholy{NewYork:VintageBooks 1977),pp.10-ii. {17)Burton,Pt.3,pp.280-81.
Varchialsoanalyzeshowthepersonsinvolvedinatrianglein-creaseordecreasejealousy.AccordingtoVarchi,anumberoffactors withinthejealouspersoncontributetohisjealousy.Firstofall, thosewhoaremostpronetojealousyarethosewhoareeitherun-faithfulthemselves,excessivelyidle,giventocholer,ordistemper, andare``over-heady."〔18)Oncejealous,theywilltakeeverythingin itsworstsense.Themoretheysuspect,themoretheyarejealous andthemoretheysearchoutevidencetoconvincethemselvesof theirworstfears.Thedisease,asitisoftencalled,becomesdes-perate."Theywilldespiteoftheirowneselues,"Varchiwrites "imagineandconceitthatwhichdothsomuchafflict ,gaule,andtor- mentthemincesantly,andwithoutrest,asiftheywerenot{pro-perly)inloue."≪s'Allinall,jealousyisnotdeterminedbythe "ruleofTruth"CZO' ,thatis,bytheactualfaithfulnessorunfaithful-nessofthewife,butbythejealousman'spsychology,theplacehe wasborn,thetimes,orwhetherornotheisidle. Attheendofhistract,Varchiaffirmsthatsome"spice"ofjeal-oust'accompaniesalIlove,thatifamanwantsachildlikehimself, "heshouldnotobtainehispurpose ,hauinghisshe-Friendcommonto another."(21)Thusit``isasnaturallathingforamalltobeIealouse, astodesiretoengender,andbegetthatwhichisliketohimself, whichisthemostnatuallt血ing...thatalivingcreaturecandoe."(22) PeterdelaPrimavdaye'sFrenchAcademy(1577),translatedinto Englishin1598byT.B.,concurs:"Nogreaterhappinesscancome toman&wifethantoleaveissueasatestimonytoposteritie,that (18)Varchi,p.33. (19)Varchi,p.33. (20)Varchi,p.33. (21)Varchi,pp.54-55. (22)Varchi,p.57. -29-一 一一
oncetheywereintheworld&haveleftbehindthematokenof theirlife."(23)Primavdyegoesontode丘ne"MarriageofLoue"as "thatwhichisbetweenanhonestmananavertuous[sic]woman , linkedtogitherbyGodfortheperservationofthelineageof man."C24'Thusitisthatonceawomanismarried,herallegiancebe-10ngsmoretoherhusbandthantoherparents.(25)ForbothVarchi andPrimavdaye,conjugalfidelityisapreeminentvalue.Primav-dayeconcludesthatitisinstitutedbyGodasthegreatestinjunction forsociety;andforVarchiconjugalreplicationisthebestwayto "participateandcomeneerevntodiuineNature ."≪s' Becausesomespiceofjealousywasthoughttobelonginallmar-riages,moderatejealousywasnotcondemned.Condemnationwas directedtowardtheextremesofexcessivejealousyorfoolishack ofsuspicionwhenitshouldexist.InTheMerryWivesofWindsor Pagearguesmoderationwhenhewarnstheonceexcessivelyjealous butnowrepentantFord,"Benotasextremeinsubmissionasinof-fense."(27)Cuckolds,therefore,tendtotheextremes,beingeither overlyjealous,actingIikejailorstotheirwives(likethecarpenter inthe"Miller'sTale"),makingthemlonely,restlessandanxious foraparamour;ortheytendtobefooledintothrustingtheirwives intothearmsofwillingcuckoldersas15thefoolishMesserFran-cescowhoallowsthe"fineandfoppish"Zimatowoohiswifeinhis (23)Trans.T.BEowes],(London:EdmundBollisantforG.BishopandRalph Newberu,1586},p.487. (24}Primavdaye,p.493. (25)Primavdaye,p.485. (26)Varchi,p.57. (27)AllquotationsfromShakespearearetakenfromTheRiversideShakes- peace,ed.G.BlackmoreEvans(Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1974).Here-afterlinenumberswillbeindicatedinthetext.
sight.C28'Attimes,cuckoldscancombineboththeabovecharacteris-tics.MesserNiciainLaMandragolaandCorvinoinVolponeareboth husbandswholocktheirwivesinandwho,dupedbyclevercuckold-markers,consenttobehorned‐Niciathathemaybecomeafather, Corvinothathemaybecomerich,neitherofwhichhappens.Emilia inOthello(IV.iii.84-103)enumeratesotherwayshusbandscause theirwives'infidelity:byneglect,infidelityonthehusband'spart, andbeatings. Tnalltheseways,thecuckoldtraditiondepictshusbandsaspaxti-cipatinginonewayorotherandtosomedegreeorotherintheir cuckolding.Thustheword"wittoi,"thoughinitsstrictestsenseis onlyapplicabletowillingcuckoldslikeNiciaandCorvino,became almostsynonymouswith"cuckold"ashornedhusbandscametobe universallyconsideredinstrumentalintheirowntransformationinto beasts.Eventheimaginarycuckoldseemedresponsibleforhisim- agineddishonor,foritishisoveractivemindandsuspiciousimagi- nationcombinedwithanobsessiveseekingforwrongdoingthatcon-vinceshimofhisowndisgrace.RobertTofte,Varchi'stranslates, admonishesalljealoushusbands Thatalways,seeks,whatthoufearstmosttofind. ThatrunstbeforethyFAIREONEinthestreet, So,withFOULMOUTHS,thatthyslyearsmaymeet, SuchasdareblackthenameofGoodnesse,such Asn,erespeaketruebutwhentheysay,'tsTOOMUC且 THOUS且0肌DSTENJOYWHATFORTUNE,NOTTHY WORTH HATHGIU,NTHEEINHER.(29) (28)GiovanniBoccaccio,TheDβ σ卿 脚%.trans.J.M.Riss(London:Dent, 1930),Vol.1,pp.178-183. (29)Varchi,p.xi. -31一
Husbandsfearedbeingcuckoldedmostlybecausetheysuffereda lossofhonorasaresultoftheirwives'transgressions.Frankfortin ThomasHeywood'sWomdnKilledWithKindnesstellshiswifewhen heconsidersherinfidelity,"Now,Iprotest,Ithink'tisIamtainted,/ ForIammostashamed."C36'Thecalumnyattachedtobeingthehus-bandofanunfaithfulwifewassoacute,Miltonwrotein1643,"The generosityofourNationisso,astoaccountnoreproachmoreabo-minable,thantobenicknam'dthehusbandofanadultresse:'C31'Tn Shakespeare,Fordsaysthedevil'snamesarebetterthanthecuck-old,s(TheMerry脚 物esofWindsorII.ii.299-300),andThersitesgoes sofarastosayhewouldratherbe"thelouseofalazar"thantobe thecuckoldMenelaus(TroilusandCressidaV.i.64-69}. Ahusbandwasdisgracedbyhiswife'sinfidelitybecause,accord-ingtoFrederickBryson,honorintheRenaissancewassomething "external"depending"moreuponthosewhorenderitthanupon thosetowhomitisrendered."C32'"Amanofhonor,"Brysoncon-tinues,"wasgenerallyheldtobeonewho...hasnotlostthegood opinionoftheworld."(33)Sinceawifehonoredherhusbandbybeing faithfulandobedienttohim,herinfidelitywouldindicateshehad losthergoodopinionofherhusband,andascuckoldswereusually assumedtoparticipateintheircuckolding,thedishonorwouldbe consideredtobedeserved.Ifawife'stransgressionwasdiscovered, (30)InTheEnglishDrama:AnAnthology900-1642,eds.EddWinfield, ParksandRichmondCroomBeatty(NewYork:Norton,2935),p.947 . Hereafterlinenumberswillbegiveninthetext. (31)TheProseof/ohnMa〃o%,ed.J.MaxPatrick(NewYork:NewYork UniversityPress,1968),p.181. (32)FredrickRobertsonBryson,ThePointofHonorゴ 〃Sixteenth-Century Italy:AnAspectoftheLifeoftheGentleman(NewYork;Colombia UniversityPress,1935),pp.2-3. (33)Bryson,p.14.
itwouldalsotakefromherhusbandthegoodopinionofsocietybe-cause,asBrysonreports,"intheopinionofthepublic..,hiswife,. wasinhiscare."C39Herlackofobediencewouldsuggestherhus-bandcouldnotcontrolher.AsCountRomeiputsit,"thelossofa woman'shonorequallyaffectsthatofherhusbandsincetheworld wouldjudgehimignorant,ofsmallworth,andworthyofthatcon-tempthiswifeandtheadultererprocurehim."C3b'Forthesereasons, duringthesixteenth-centurythehusbandfrequentlyhadtosharehis wife'sdisgraceata"`skimmington,'orpublicshamepunishment."C3s, Finally,inthishighlypatriarchalsocietywithitswidekinship bondsandeconomicstatusdependentonlineage,personalidentity andhonorwerestronglyconnectedtoancestry.Dishonorincurred byparentswassharedbytheirchildren,andchildren'sshamereflected backontheirparents.Awife'sinfidelitywouldstampherhusband's progenywiththetaintofillegitimacy,ataintthatthehusbandwould share.Thusinaworldwheremenderivedmuchoftheiridentity throughlineage,itisnowo皿derthatbytheviolationoflegitimacy bothchildandfatherweretransformed,thechildintoabastardand thefatherintoahornedbeast. Justasbeingdubbed"cuckold"wasthegreatestcalumnyfora husband,sobeingcalled"whore"wasthegreatestcalumnytobefall aRenaissancewife.ThewordissorepulsivetoDesdemona,shecan barelyspeakit(OthelloIV.ii.117).AndtheslanderedImogentells Pisanio,"IhaveheardIamastrumpet,andmineeare,/Therein falsestrook,cantakenogreaterwound"(CymbelineIII.iv.113-114). (34)Bryson,p.27. (35)QuotedinCurtisBrownWatson,ShakespeareandtheRenaissanceCon-ceptofHonor(Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1960),p.438. (36)LawrenceStone,TheFamily,SexandMarriageinEngland1500-1800 (NewYork:HarperandRow,1979),abridgededition,p.317. -33一
CurtisWatsonwritesthat"honor"and"honesty"inawomancon-sistedalmostexclusively"ofvirginityaslongasshewasunmarried andinherfaithfulnesstoherhusbandaftermarriage."(37)This honestyseemstohavebeenthesinglemostimportantpossessiona womanhad.Indefendingherselfagainsttheseductiveargumentsof Bertram,Dianasays Minehonor'ssucharing, Mychastity'sthejewelofourhouse, Bequeatheddownfrommanyancestors, WhichWerethegreatestobloguyi'th'world Inmetolose. (All'sWell'lhatEndsWellIV.ii.45-49) Theimageofchastityandhonorasafamilyiewelisapt.Theimage suggestsnotonlythatitisapreciousinheritanceconnectedtoIegi-timacylikeone'snameorwealth,butalsothatitisnotfullythe woman'spossession.Itisafamilypossessionthatshemustguard. Asaninheritancefromherancestors,herhonorwasthepossession ofherfatherbeforemarriageandofherhusbandaftermarriage. Thisisalmosthumorouslyevidentin"TheRapeofLucrece"when aftertherapedLucrecetakesherLifeCollatineandLucretius,her husbandandfather,argueintheirgriefoverwhohaslosther: "O ,"quothLucretius,"Ididgivethatlife Whichshetooearlyandtoolatehathspill'd." "Woe ,woe,"quothCollatine,"shewasmywife, (37)Watson,p.159.
Iowedher,and'tisminethatshebathkill'd." "Mydaughtert"and"Mywife!"withclamorsfill'd Thedispers'dair,whoholdingLucrece'life, Answer'dtheixcxies,"Mydaughter!"and"Mywife!" (1800-1807) AndasHectorpointsout,"Naturecraves/Allduesberend'redto theirowners:now/Whatnearerdebtinallhumanity/Thanwifeis tohusband?"(TroilusandCressidaII,ii.173-176}. Womendidnotpossesshonorinthemselves,Brysonpointsout theywerethoughttobe"bynatureimperfect"ascomparedto men.(38)Theyhadnointrinsichonorbutwereonlyrepositoriesfor theirhusband'shonor.Thuswhenawomanlosesherhonor,that lossreflectsasmuchonherfatherbeforemarriageandonherhus-bandaftermarriageasonherself.Thewoman'scalumnydexives fromlosingwhatsheheldintrusteeship,notfromlosingwhatshe herselfpossessed. Sincechastitywastheprimequalitydefiningawoman'shonor,its losswastantamounttothelossoflife.Accordingly,someEliza-bethanswentsofarastofavorcapitalpunishmentforadultery.C39' Mrs.Frankfortfeelsthatthemostwelcomepunishmentforherde-linquencyisdeathσ7b〃aanKilledレVithKi加!HessIV.v.96),andFrank・ fort's"kindness"isironicforitallowshertolive.OfteninShakes-pearsuspicionofadultery,whethertrueornot,leftonlydeathasan alternative.LucrececommitssuicideLaviniaallowsherselftobe killed,andHeroandHermionefeigndeathtilltheirnamesarecleared (38)Bryson,p.24. {39)RichardL.Greaves,SocietyandReligionanElizabethanEngland(Min-neapolis:UniversityofMi皿esotaPress,1971),p.774. -35一
andtheiraccusersarecaughtand/ormakereparation.Desdemona andImogenaremarkedfordeathbytheirhusbandswhentheirfaiths aresuspected.C40'Furtheritisofutmostimportanceforawomanto becarefulofherhonor,foritcanbedamagedbytheslightestsus-picion.Imogenmustundergoaseveretrialbeforehernameiscleaerd andsheisreunitedwithherhusband.PrimavdayequotesCaesar's warning"thatawomanmustnotonlybefreefromthatfault,but alsofromalSuspicionthereof,"andPrimavdayeconcludesthat"the greatestvertueofawoman...isnottobeknownbutofhir husband."C41' Theimportanceoffaithfulnessinawifeisexplainable,ofcourse, inapatriarchalsocietyasawayofinsuringlegitimacy,andthusthe smoothtransferalofafather'spossessionstohiseldestlegitimate son.ThisisthereasonDianainAll'sWedlThdtEndsWellsees chastityasthe"jewel"ofher"house,"andwhyitwasseeninthe Renaissancetobetheexclusivepossessionofthehusband.Keith Thomas'article,"TheDoubleStandard,"reiteratesthattheinsurance oflegitimacyfirstcreatedtheinjunctionsforfemalechastity,anidea bynomeansnewasThomasfindsitexpressedinDr.Johnson.(42) Throughaprocessofextensionthisin3uctioncreatesacomplexof restrictionsarisingasaresultof thedesireofmenforabsolutepropertyinwomen,adesire whichcannotbesatisfiedifthemanhasreasontobelieve thatthewomanhasoncebeenpossessedbyanotherman,no (40)Watsonstatesthatthemurderofawifeforadulterywasacceptablein Renaissancecodesofhonor,pp.159-160. (41)Primavdaye,pp.515-516. (42)KeithThomas,"TheDoubleStandard,'ワ'ournalげtheHistoryofIdeas 20(1959),249.
matterhowmomentarilyandinvoluntarilyandnomatter howslighttheconsequences.㈹ 'Thi sconceptmatchesVarchi'scategoryofjealousybyreasonof"Pro-pertyorRight." Theprocessofextensionisimportantinregardtostoriesofcuck-oldry,foritappliesinseveralwaysbothtocuckoldsandtheirwives. Twoofthemostfrequentideasexpressedintheliteratureofcuck-oldryisthecuckoldomofallhusbandsandthesexuallicenseofall women.Themostcommonanti-feministstereotypesintheEnglish Renaissanceinsistedonthechangeablenessofallwomen,"Thewo- manisaweakcreatureandnotenduedwith...strengthandcon-stancyofmind,"saysthe且omilyonMarriage.㈲Harbageaffirms thatcoteriedramausuallydepictswomenasnotonlychangeablebut sexuallyinsatiable.C46'Thesestereotypescanbefoundinpopular dramaaswellasincoteriedrama.Forinstance,itliesbehindDeme-trius'statementinTitusAncironicus,"Sheisawoman,thereforemay bewood/Sheisawoman,thereforemaybewon"(II.i.82-83).And soitisthatallmarriedmenarecuckolds.Benedickvowstostaysin- gie,foronlyinthiswaycanhebesuretowearhiscapwithoutsus-picion(MuchAdoAboutNothingI.i.197-1.99),andthusitisthat chargesofunfaithinonewomanareagainandagainfollowedby chargesofinfidelityinallwoman.AssoonasOthelloisconvinced Desdemonahasbeenunfaithful,heaffirms,"Eventhenthisforked plagueisfatedtous/Whenwedoquicken"(OthelloIII.iii.276-277). InsimilarcircumstancesPosthumussays,"Weareallbastards ./And thatmostvenerablemanwhichI/Didcallmyfather,wasIknownot (43)Thomas,p.216. (44)QuotedinStonep.138. -37-一
where/WhenIwasstamp'd"(CymbelaneII.v.2-5),Becauseofthe pxocessofextension,theapparentlawlessnessofonewomansug-gestedthatmenhavenocontrolorpossessionoverwomeningeneral. AfterOthello,thisideamaybetermedthethemeoftheforkedplague, andmanyofthestoriesofcuckoldrywrittenbeforeandduringSha-kespeare'stimeaffirmitasatheme.EveninJonson'sEveryManIn HisHumourthoughDameKitely,wifeofthejealousKitely,proves faithful,thedramaconcludeswithavisionofallLondon'smale populationcuckolded: Seewhatadroveofhornsflyintheair Wingedwithmycleansedandmycredulousbreath! Watch'emsuspiciouseyes,watchwheretheyfall. See,see!onheadsthatthinkthey'venoneatall 4,whataplenteousworldofthiswillcome Whenairrainshorns,allmaybesureofsome.(46) Varchistatesbeautyisthemainqualityinawifethatsparkssus-picion.Indeed,hedefinesjealousyasthedesiretopossessorenjoythe "Beautyofone ."(47)Awoman'sbeautyattractsparamourswhose wooingdefraudsawomanofherchastity.Forthisreason,Hamlet warnsOphelia"ifyoubehonestandfair[yourhonesty]shouldad-mitnodiscoursetoyourbeauty"for"thepowerofbeautywill... transformhonestyfromwhatitistoabawd"{HamletIII.i.106-7, 11U-11).Primavdayewarns,"Ifthoumarriestafairewoman,thou (45)AlfredHarbage,ShakespeareandtheRivalTraditions(Bloomington IndianaUniversityPress,1952),p.242. (46)InTheEnglashDrama,V.v.779. (47)Varchi,p.20.
puttestthyselfeingreatdanger,lestthyroundheadbecome forked. (48) Certainpersonalitytraitswerealsothoughttogivemencausefor suspicion.Bycataloguingthequalitiesfoundinativomanwhichles -senjealousy,Varchirevealswhatqualitiesmenthoughtmarkeda faithfulwife.Menarelessjealous,writesVarchi,ofawomanwho "iswellbred ,ispittifulofNature,properofPersonage,constant, wittie,discreete,modest,offewwords,[and]tenderofherowneRe-potationandHonour."ids'Awomanwhoisnotwellbroughtup,who isbold,inconstant,dull,indiscreet,immodest,talkativeanduncon- cernedwithherhonortendstocreatejealousyinherhusband.Pri-mavdayebelievesthetrueornamentsofawomanaretobe"honest , wise,humble&Chaste,"whereas"adiscouereddug,anakedbrest , frisledlocks,paintings,perfumes,&especiallyaroulingeie,&aIas-ciuious&unchastelookarethefore-runnersofadultery."(5ω Theidealwifewasthoughttobequiet,xetiring,submissiveand modest,usuallystayinginthehomeawayfromcompany,(51)Tend. enciestowardsboldness,loveofcompany,gregariousness,andtalk- ativenesswereallmarksofunfaithfulwives.AsMarilynFrenchem-phasizes,Renaissancewomenwerelookedatintwomajorways,what shecalls"inlaw"and"outlaw"principles.(62)Theinlawprinciple wascharacterizedbyloyalty,modesty,mildness,submissionand chasteconstancy;theoutlawprinciplecharacterizedbydisloyalty , lasciviousness,boldnessambitionandsexualinfidelity.Thesestereo-(48)Primavdaye,p.483. (49)Varchi,pp.27-28. (50)Primavdaye,p.50. (51)Stone,p.138.
(52)Shakespeare's1)'痂 ゴo〃s(ザ、翫 ヵ爾6"`θ(NewYork:SummitBooks,1981), Chapt.1.
typeswereepitomizedbyMaryandEverespectively.Afailingin
anywaywould,throughextension,stereotypeawomanamongthe
potentiallyunchasteandattractparamours.
Theparamourinthecuckoldtraditionisusuallyyoung,Iusty,fun
lovingandclever.Intheeaxlycuckoldtradition,heismostoftena
positivefigurewhoseenterpriseisencouraged.Occasionallymore
interestedatfirstinthescienceofloveasakindofintellectualexer-cise,hebecomesobsessedwiththebeautyofawifeandfeelshelpless
amonghissighsanddepression.Budhisanguishisusuallyrelieved
whenaloneorwiththehelpofapanderheapproachesthewifeand
receivesafavorableresponse,usuallyafterhisfirstdeclarationof
love.Atrystisthenarrangedatwhichtheparamourhopestofind
relief,andheusuallydoesbutoftennotuntilhesufferssomeun-pleasantries,mostoftenincurredwhentryingtoavoidthejealous
husband.Thesetrialsandindignitiesarefoundthroughoutthecuck-oldtraditionasfarbackasHoracewhowarnswould-beparamours
asfollows:
Itisnotworthyourwhile,yewhowouldhavedisasterwait
onadulterers,tohearhowoneverysidetheyfareill,and
howforthempleasureismarredbymuchpain,and,rareas
itis,comesoftamidcruelperils.Onemanhasthrownhim-selfheadlongfromtheroof;anotherhasbeenfloggedto
death;athird,inhisflight,hasfallenintoasavagegangof
robbers.(53)
Sometimestheparamourhasarivalinanotheradmirer,whobears
(53)Horace:Satires,Epistles,andArsPoetica,trans.H.RushtonFair-slough(London:Heinemann,1926),BookI.Satireii,34-43.
1,
equallyhumiliatingtrialsasinthe"Miller'sTale."Inmanycases, thepreferredparamouriscomfortedand/oraidedbyamischievous friend,awilyservant,thewife'slustymaid,thewife'ssympa-theticmotherorthewittollyhusbandhimself.Justasmarriageswere usuallynegotiatedbyintermediaries,C54'paramoursengagedpanders toapproachtheirbeloveds.Thepanderisusuallyolder,bawdy,and clever,motivatedeitherbyafaithinloveandromance,apleasure inmischief,orbyakindofvicariousimpulse. Thecuckoldtraditionwasawidespreadandquiteconsistent traditionthatspannedtheMedievalandRenaissanceperiodsinEng- landandonthecontinentandextendedwellbeyond.Likethepasto- xaltraditionandtherevengetragedytradition,forexample,thecuck-oldtraditionemployedstockcharactersandplotsandrepresentedan aspectofexperiencethatwasofinterestandimportancetoauthors andaudiences.Recognitionofliterarycuckoldryasalegitimatetra-ditionmust,therefore,precedeanyrealunderstandingofindividual workswrittenwithinit.Furtherinvestigationsintothetraditionand studiesofse血inalworkswithinthetraditionarecalledfornotonly inordertorevealfurtherfeaturesofcuckoldrybutalsotohelpillu-urinatethevaststoreoffineliteratuzefoundwithinthecuckold tradition. (54)MargaretLoftusRonald,°'AsMarriageBinds,andBloodBreaks':Eng-lishMarriageandShakespeare,"ShakespeareQuarterly30(1979),p.74. -41一
