A Muzzle for the Woman-Hater (1617 Clapback)
Carson Brakke, who has a PhD in early modern English literature, tells the whole story in 33 minutes.
In 1615, a fencing bro (Joseph Swetnam) published an anti-woman pamphlet, The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women, under the pseudonym Thomas Tel-troth. It was approximately as well thought out as modern misogynistic arguments, albeit with a more biblical bent (e.g., claiming women are inherently “crooked” like Eve’s rib).
In any case, a 19 year old woman (Rachel Speght) and a collection of other early modern writers (Ester Sowernam, Constantia Munda, and an anonymous playwright) firmly clapped back using logic, literary skill, and public discourse—immortalizing Swetnam as a historical laughingstock.
We stumbled upon the story thanks to GlutenbergBible (hosted by Carson Brakke). Her video is here. If it makes you want to read all of the pamphlets, we took the liberty of binding them here. They are even nicer to read in the Chromatics app.
The pamphlets
- 1615The Araignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant WomenJoseph Swetnam. Two epistles, three chapters and a bear-baiting of widows.
- 1617A Mouzell for MelastomusRachel Speght, with Certaine Quaeres to the Bayter of Women.
- 1617Ester hath hang’d HamanEster Sowernam. Two parts, and the arraignment of Joseph Swetnam.
- 1617The Worming of a mad DoggeConstantia Munda. “No confutation but a sharpe redargution.”
- 1620Swetnam, the Woman-hater, Arraigned by WomenAnonymous. A new comedy, acted at the Red Bull, with a prologue and an epilogue through a muzzle.
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