Gender Concerns
The Parameters of Female Honor
Eric Brown
Women in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were largely excluded from attaining significant honor in society. A woman’s duty was to protect her husband’s honor by preserving her honesty and chastity rather than committing virtuous acts. The Courtier’s Academie defines women’s roles in the honor system as such: ““Honour Feminine is preserved by not failing onely in one of their proper particular vertues, which is honestie”” (126). Women’s honor, then, derives simply from honest passivity.
The accusation of being unchaste was the biggest threat to a woman’s supposed honor. In discussing the rising number of defamation suits in the Elizabethan era -- cases brought against people for slandering another’s reputation -- Elizabeth Foster writes, ““married women fought defamation suits over insults which were almost entirely sexual in nature”” (4). Records indicate that when a woman was defending her honor, it meant she was defending her chastity.
Female honor was fundamentally different from male honor at this time. Whereas men derived honor from virtuous acts, women had little to no ability to attain their honor.; Female honor could only be lost, usually after allegations of sexual misconduct, which seem to have been taken seriously simply because of the effect these allegations would have had on the cuckolded man’s honor. People considered a cuckolded man ““ignorant,”” and ““of small worth,”” (Courtiers Acadmie 127). Ultimately, women were barred from participation in the honor system that dominated male culture except in situations where their behavior affected the honor and repute of their male counterparts.
Given this historical knowledge, Lady Percy serves as an ironic authority on the subject of male honor in Henry IV Ppart II. When Northumberland, Hotspur’s father, contemplates rejoining the war to avenge his son’s death, Lady Percy scolds him for hypocrisy. Northumberland explains that if he does not fight, his honor is ““at pawn,”” or at risk (II.iii.7). Lady Percy, however, reminds him of the fact that he did not help his son during the battle of Shrewsbury. She laments, ““Who then persuaded you to stay at home? … There were two honours lost, yours and your son’s”” (II.iii.15-165). Lady Percy goes on to speak about the deceased Hotspur’s bravery and honor, successfully convincing Northumberland not to reenter the war. In this speech, Lady Percy, living in a period where she is essentially unable to achieve honor for herself, still effectively educates Northumberland about what male honor actually is, and points out the futility of his desperate idea for how to regain it.
The accusation of being unchaste was the biggest threat to a woman’s supposed honor. In discussing the rising number of defamation suits in the Elizabethan era -- cases brought against people for slandering another’s reputation -- Elizabeth Foster writes, ““married women fought defamation suits over insults which were almost entirely sexual in nature”” (4). Records indicate that when a woman was defending her honor, it meant she was defending her chastity.
Female honor was fundamentally different from male honor at this time. Whereas men derived honor from virtuous acts, women had little to no ability to attain their honor.; Female honor could only be lost, usually after allegations of sexual misconduct, which seem to have been taken seriously simply because of the effect these allegations would have had on the cuckolded man’s honor. People considered a cuckolded man ““ignorant,”” and ““of small worth,”” (Courtiers Acadmie 127). Ultimately, women were barred from participation in the honor system that dominated male culture except in situations where their behavior affected the honor and repute of their male counterparts.
Given this historical knowledge, Lady Percy serves as an ironic authority on the subject of male honor in Henry IV Ppart II. When Northumberland, Hotspur’s father, contemplates rejoining the war to avenge his son’s death, Lady Percy scolds him for hypocrisy. Northumberland explains that if he does not fight, his honor is ““at pawn,”” or at risk (II.iii.7). Lady Percy, however, reminds him of the fact that he did not help his son during the battle of Shrewsbury. She laments, ““Who then persuaded you to stay at home? … There were two honours lost, yours and your son’s”” (II.iii.15-165). Lady Percy goes on to speak about the deceased Hotspur’s bravery and honor, successfully convincing Northumberland not to reenter the war. In this speech, Lady Percy, living in a period where she is essentially unable to achieve honor for herself, still effectively educates Northumberland about what male honor actually is, and points out the futility of his desperate idea for how to regain it.