Scold Bridal Research Paper

The scold’s bridal is a symbol that the society of the 17th century, particularly in London, is dominated and ruled by men who are able to submit women.

“Between 1560 and 1640 […] records disclose an intense preoccupation with women who are a visible threat to the patriarchal system. Woman scolding and brawling with their neighbours, single woman refusing to enter service, wives dominating or even beating their husbands; all seem to occur more frequently in this period” . Natalie Davis said even a new class of “the woman on top” was emerging. But how does this stay coherent with the artefact in the picture? The scold’s bridal originated in Scotland during the 16th century. But it got widely popular in the lower class in England during

Also the physical pain was relevant to stress the superiority of the men. The woman would cut her tongue if she attempted to speak as many devices had sharp spikes attached to the mouthpiece. The woman was forced to wear the device which also illustrates the physical inferiority. The mouth opening also did not allow food consumption. The woman was not even in control of her own life. She would starve without the help of the man.

Furthermore it was very likely that the punishment was not imposed by a court as most of the times only wealthier people or matters concerning property were addressed to the court. Instead ‘unofficial community actions’ were implemented by ‘informal means’ . This would imply that a man could choose how to punish a woman. The woman did not have an opportunity to defend herself. She could only be freed of the Scold’s bridal when she surrendered and accepted her ‘misbehaviour’.

The scold’s bridal was an instrument of power in order to control the woman and enforce the submission of her. But the necessity of such a device might also illustrate the fear of men that the existing patriarchal order was threatened. Why did its popularity grow during the seventeenth century, especially in English towns such as