Folk-Lore of Women

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Folk-Lore of Women

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A comprehensive survey of proverbs, superstitions, and folk beliefs surrounding women across cultures and centuries. This collection explores diverse topics ranging from wives, mothers, and widows to witches, women's speech, and naming customs, offering a wide-ranging look at how humanity has historically judged the fair sex.

Summary up to 500 words

Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer's *Folk-Lore of Women* offers a comprehensive survey of the proverbs, superstitions, and folk beliefs that have surrounded women across cultures and centuries. Structured into twenty-seven chapters, the work systematically categorizes sayings under subjective headings to explore every aspect of womanhood. The text begins by establishing that proverbs serve as a sanctuary for a nation's intuitions, noting that judgments on women are often evenly divided between favorable and unfavorable views. Early chapters examine physical characteristics, beauty, dress, and eyes, contrasting positive attributes with negative ones like fickleness and hate. Specific attention is given to historical prejudices, such as the widespread aversion to red hair in France, England, and among the Chinese, where it was associated with the devil or moral shortcomings, though praised by Romans and Greeks. The narrative delves into the complexities of women's wills, secrets, and tears, alongside their roles as wives, maids, and widows. The author explores local allusions, including traditions of baptizing girls before boys to prevent them from growing up with 'hairy beards,' and sister legends. The work cites a vast array of sources, from ancient Egyptian and Chinese proverbs to the writings of John Heywood and John Ray, illustrating the universal nature of these beliefs while omitting coarser adages unsuitable for a general audience. A significant portion of the book addresses the theme of fickleness, citing Francis I's famous inscription, 'Souvent femme varie,' and contrasting it with stories of conjugal affection. The final sections touch upon daughters and romantic traditions associated with 'My Lady's Walk,' paths linked to tragic or legendary incidents involving women. Throughout, Thiselton-Dyer presents a concise yet substantial classification of proverbial wisdom concerning womankind, acknowledging both the indispensable nature of women to human happiness and the deep-seated contradictions and prejudices that have defined their portrayal in folklore.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks-2/thomas-firminger-thiselton-dyer_folk-lore-of-women.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• Ethnology