the english housewife
Vanessa Figliomeni
Sandy Carpenter
998308987 Friday
January 27th 2012
The English Housewife
Gervase Markham’s The English Housewife , is a text from the seventeenth
Century ,which appears to be in the form of a published handbook. This handbook seems to be mainly intended for the women of this era, as indicated in the books title. This text contains the expectations of a housewife during this particular time period and contains “all the virtuous knowledge’s and actions both of the mind and body, which ought to be in any complete housewife. 1Markham sheds light on what is referred to as “ pretty and curious secrets” in terms of the preparation of meals, whether they be rather simple or intricate dishes.2 Through this handbook, Markham provides he housewives with instructions for tasks such as preserving of wine, brewing of beer, spinning and dyeing of clothing, and the growing of flax. 3Considering that during this era, in addition to the many responsibilities of a housewife, a woman was also responsible for the
“ soundness of the body” and health of her family, Markham provides solution to things ranging from baldness, bad breath to the plague.4 In general, this text is a essential and informative guideline in terms of the expectation of a housewife.
Through this particular text, a highly influential societal aspect of this time period would be the roles associated with being a woman. It is evident that during this time a woman was an essential member of society.5 For instance, in terms of the “soundness of the body” and the woman's responsibility of health, we can identify the importance of knowledge. “ It is meet that she have a physical kind of knowledge ; how to administer many wholesome recipes or medicines for the good of their health’s as well to prevent the first occasion of sickness”.6 For the housewife to be able to take
Sandy Carpenter
998308987 Friday
January 27th 2012
The English Housewife
Gervase Markham’s The English Housewife , is a text from the seventeenth
Century ,which appears to be in the form of a published handbook. This handbook seems to be mainly intended for the women of this era, as indicated in the books title. This text contains the expectations of a housewife during this particular time period and contains “all the virtuous knowledge’s and actions both of the mind and body, which ought to be in any complete housewife. 1Markham sheds light on what is referred to as “ pretty and curious secrets” in terms of the preparation of meals, whether they be rather simple or intricate dishes.2 Through this handbook, Markham provides he housewives with instructions for tasks such as preserving of wine, brewing of beer, spinning and dyeing of clothing, and the growing of flax. 3Considering that during this era, in addition to the many responsibilities of a housewife, a woman was also responsible for the
“ soundness of the body” and health of her family, Markham provides solution to things ranging from baldness, bad breath to the plague.4 In general, this text is a essential and informative guideline in terms of the expectation of a housewife.
Through this particular text, a highly influential societal aspect of this time period would be the roles associated with being a woman. It is evident that during this time a woman was an essential member of society.5 For instance, in terms of the “soundness of the body” and the woman's responsibility of health, we can identify the importance of knowledge. “ It is meet that she have a physical kind of knowledge ; how to administer many wholesome recipes or medicines for the good of their health’s as well to prevent the first occasion of sickness”.6 For the housewife to be able to take