Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store…
““Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they play’d for. But I do think it is their husbands’ faults If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties And pour our treasures into foreign laps; Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite; Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell And have their palates both for sweet and sour, As husbands have. What is it that they do When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think it is: and doth affection breed it? I think it doth: is’t frailty that thus errs? It is so too. And have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well: else let them know The ills we do their ills instruct us so.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Women are portrayed as having desires and agency, yet are blamed for marital discord, reflecting gender double standards of the era.
In simple terms: Women have wants and can cause trouble, but are blamed for it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize mutual responsibility in relationships.
Themes
gender roles
marriage
blame
desire
agency
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marital counseling
- relationship therapy
- gender studies
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
double standards
agency
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societal expectations shape blame in relationships?
- Can mutual respect replace suspicion?
A Different Perspective
The passage assumes women are inherently frail and manipulative, ignoring broader social constraints.