Project Gutenberg
2004-12-07
Public domain in the USA.
243
Erasmus, Desiderius
1469
1536
Erasmus, of Rotterdam
A Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest Wives
David Starner, Louise Hope, the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team and David Widger
"A Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest Wives" by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam is a humorous discourse written in the mid-16th century, likely around the 1550s. This dialogue fits within the genre of social commentary and satire, exploring marital dynamics and the contrasting tendencies of wives characterized as either 'shrowde shrews' or 'honest wives.' The text likely aims to entertain while also providing insights into the expected behaviors and roles within a marriage, reflecting the social norms of its time. The narrative unfolds through the conversations of two women, Eulalia and Xantippa, who exchange their experiences and perspectives on marriage and their husbands. Eulalia offers counsel to Xantippa, who complains about her husband's behavior and perceived shortcomings. The dialogue touches on themes of patience, understanding, and the dynamics of power and submission within the marital relationship. Through anecdotes and humor, the text conveys the idea that wives can influence their husbands' behavior through gentleness and domestic care while highlighting the challenges they face. It culminates in a comedic yet pointed commentary on marriage, suggesting that the ability to navigate these complexities is crucial for a harmonious relationship. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 80.8 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Imaginary conversations
Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- Translations into English
PA
Text
Browsing: History - Medieval/The Middle Ages
Browsing: Language & Communication
Browsing: Literature
Category: Humour
Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
Category: Classics of Literature
Category: British Literature
122816
2025-06-06T08:32:26.147261
text/html
132100
2021-03-28T13:31:34
text/html; charset=us-ascii
4692423
2025-06-06T08:32:29.818248
application/epub+zip
4691342
2025-06-06T08:32:26.959233
application/epub+zip
57412
2025-06-06T08:32:26.484235
application/epub+zip
4849782
2025-06-06T08:32:31.822243
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
4834511
2025-06-06T08:32:29.343282
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
206364
2022-09-07T15:29:05.789534
application/x-mobipocket-ebook
92058
2025-06-06T08:32:25.674241
text/plain; charset=us-ascii
91905
2021-03-28T13:42:53
text/plain; charset=utf-8
17104
2025-06-06T08:32:31.964260
application/rdf+xml
21352
2025-06-06T08:32:26.572264
image/jpeg
3260
2025-06-06T08:32:26.527257
image/jpeg
4495628
2025-06-06T08:32:26.316261
application/octet-stream
application/zip
Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at
https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog
en.wikipedia
nl.wikipedia