‘One Stroak of His Razour’: Tales of Self-Gelding in Early Modern England

Abstract

Summary This article examines stories of men who gelded themselves in early modern England. These events, it argues, were shaped and partly motivated by a culture in which castration was seen as both degrading and potentially empowering. Religious precedents such as that of Origen of Alexandria framed self-gelding as a foolhardy activity, but one which nevertheless indicated an impressive degree of mastery over the body and its urges. Meanwhile, judicial and popular contexts framed castration as a humiliating and emasculating ordeal. Instances of self-gelding in this period are rare but nonetheless illuminating. Relayed in medical texts and popular ballads, such actions typically occurred as a response to emotional distress. In particular, men gelded themselves as a means to express feelings of emasculation within heterosexual relationships, and to dramatically renounce their role in the libidinal economy.

Castration and emasculation in the Middle Age. The andrological conundrum of Peter Abelard

“…The Church had long considered self‐castration as a “shortcut” to refrain from carnal desires in order to pursue a life of asceticism. As such it had been banned since the Council of Nicaea 14 . In these regards, Murphy underlines that undoubtedly Abelard was well aware that the moral weight of castration would not befall on him, and he would not be denied from the clerical office, as it would only be closed to self‐castrated men 14 .…”

“…As such it had been banned since the Council of Nicaea 14 . In these regards, Murphy underlines that undoubtedly Abelard was well aware that the moral weight of castration would not befall on him, and he would not be denied from the clerical office, as it would only be closed to self‐castrated men 14 . Whether Fulbert was of the same advice or whether his actions were purposefully aimed at preventing Abelard from pursuing a life in the Church is a question without any final answer.…”

Um Estudo Comparado Da Institucionalização E Patologização Das Inscrições Corporais

“…He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 40 geralmente sucedida ou precedida por outras mutilações, como flagelação pública, queimaduras e desmembramento (SKUSE, 2018). Nesses casos, a castração costumava ser aplicada a pessoas acusadas de adotar condutas sexuais criminalizadas:…”