Gender Relations
Joseph Swetnam
Not much of Joseph Swetnam's childhood and adult life is known. However, we do know that Swetnam had at least one daughter named Elizabeth, who married into the church in 1613 and later died in 1626. In 1615 Swetnam publishes "The Arraignment of Women" , despite his efforts to be anonymous ,which becomes one of the most influential pamphlet during this time. His piece was not only resonated with the male community but ignites the female community, three to be exact, to write a rebuttal defending their gender and denouncing Swetnam's false claims against them and pushing for women advancements. Swetnam later publishes "The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Sceince of Defence" a manual for fencing which is believed to be his career, and was even the fencing instructor of Prince Henry, however no employment records are found of his service. Swetnam is credited for creating/teaching unique series of special guards that are used in fencing
"For men will be persuaded with reason, but women must be answered with silence."
"but a froward woman will never be tamed"
His Mission
The summary of Swetnam's "Arraignment of Women" was to attack women for being the down fall of man for their lack of submission to men and their failure to be subservient to men. He used Tactics such as paraphrasing of literature and scripture, jokes and anecdotes in-order to rely his misogynistic ideas of women.
"He also saith that [women] were made of the rib of a man, and that their froward nature shows; for a rib is a crooked thing good for nothing else, and women are crooked by nature, for small occasion will cause them to be angry."
My Opinion
I originally wasn't going to be completely negative. I imagined myself criticizing his work but also pointing out areas that I enjoyed,or hated less than other parts. However, I can't and because this is my opinion I guess I don't have to. I disliked it. Nothing about it was enjoyable, he only spewed hate and mostly rephrased texts so they fixed his belief when really the scripture wouldn't even be close to his idea. He, to me at least, seems to lack knowledge, yet pretends to know what he's talking about.
