Demonization of Women: Witchcraft, Eve, and Sexuality

Malleus Maleficarum

Part I: Question VI: Concerning Witches Who Copulate with Devils

Why It Is that Women Are Chiefly Addicted to Evil Superstitions:

The author attempted to answer several questions concerning witches that fornicated with devils. He wondered how the devil was physically able to have sex with a woman. He pondered what element his body was made of, whether semen was exchanged during sex, whether this sexual act was a frequent event, and whether this act was actually visible to others. Also, he wondered if women conceived by the devil were the only ones who had sex with the devil frequently, or whether women "were offered to devils by midwives at the time of their birth. He also wondered if the sexual pleasure of the woman's was lesser or equal to the "venereal delectation" of the devil. What seemed unfair in this selection was that the author did not question whether the act of sex between a woman and a devil actually took place. The author automatically assumed that the woman had sex with the devil and there was no question as to whether the devil raped her or not. Thus, the author was extremely unfair and had little faith in women. The author also wondered why "this kind of perfidy" was found more in women, the more "fragile" gender. The author again demonstrated his unfairness and dearth of faith in woman. Rather than calling the woman a victim of a horrific act, he used the word perfidy, suggesting that the woman was once again deceived, much like Eve in the Garden of Eden. The author also wanted to discover what conditions were typical of woman who participate in witchcraft. He also, once again, specifically referenced midwives and wondered if they were the ones who "surpass all others in wickness." Here, the author seemed to make another assumption. His superficiality was clear, since he was judging women based on their age and physical appearance. To him, since midwives were not youthful and not as lucky in physical appearance, they were potential witches. He created a stereotype of witches, an older, ugly appearance that reflected their inner wickedness.

Why Superstition is Chiefly Found in Women:

Here, the author questioned "why a greater number of witches [are] found in the fragile feminine sex than among men." He began by pointing out that it was "accredited by actual experience, apart from the verbal testimony of credible witnesses." In other words, the author immediately proved that his evidence for witchcraft was invalid. The women were the only ones who were claiming they were having sex with the devil, who were most likely only saying they were to save themselves, considering that they would be sentenced to death if they did not admit what had happened. If women said they had sex with the devil and said it was forced upon them, the women would live. If they spoke the truth, and said they were not witches, they would be sentenced to death. Again, the author's irrationality was his first flaw. He went further and said that the instances in which men claimed they were possessed by the devil were invalid, so that he would not detract "from a sex in which God has always taken great glory that His might should be spread abroad." Here, it was obvious the major reason for the author's inclination to accuse women of witchcraft was based on his interpretation and belief in the story presented in Genesis, in which women could be interpreted as inferior and more gullible then men. Also, the interpretation that women brought evil into the world because of Eve's deceitfulness in the Garden of Eden was another reason why the author was inclined to point his finger at women.

Then, the author quoted Ecclesiasticus XXV, which stated that "there is no wrath above the wrath of a woman. I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than to keep house with a wicked woman... All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman." He went further, stating that it was not good to marry, claiming that women were nothing but a "fore to friendship, an unescapable punishment, a necessary evil, a natural temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic danger, a delectable detriment, an evil of nature, painted with fair colours!" In other words, the author believed that a women's physical attractiveness was her greatest threat to mankind. Despite this however, women were essential to the survival of all humanity, which was why he stated that women were a "necessary evil." He consistently stated that women were "desirable," "delectable," and "painted with fair colours." Thus, to him, woman's only positive quality (beauty) was nothing but a disease to the existence of man. The author's inability to recognize the many other positive qualities of women was the proof of his incredibility. He seemed extremely frustrated that men were forced to live with them, considering it was a sin to divorce and necessary for women to exist for mankind to survive. The author then stated that first reason why women were more inclined to be witches: their gullibility. This was a direct reference to the Garden of Eden story, in which Eve was "tricked" by the snake, and not Adam. Once again, the author proved his anti-feminist beliefs, which seemed to be based on his interpretation of Gen 2-3.

Next, the author tried to "save himself" by stating that women should be praised as much as possible, considering the "benediction of Mary." Thus, despite the fact that Eve was the first human to commit evil, the notion that a woman, Mary, would be an extremely important figure in the Christian Church, was glorified by God was a reason to praise women. As such, the author needed to note that not all women were bad, but merely that they were more inclined to be witches because not all women were like Mary. He also noted that because women were "feebler both in mind and body," they were more often found to be witches. His anti-feminist and ignorant views were once again clear. It seemed that the author was basing his attitudes towards women more on personal experience rather than interpretation of Genesis. Despite the fact that men have a clear physical advantage over women, woman have not in any way proven that they lack the mental abilities that men possess. It was merely the fact that society, at the time, restricted the education of women that cause any person to believe that woman lacked intellect. He further argued that women had the mental capacity of children. He said, "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." In other words, if a women lacked physical attractiveness, she may have intelligence, but if a woman had beauty, it was extremely rare that she possessed knowledge greater than a child. In response to this, women possess the potential to acquire knowledge, much like Eve demonstrated. In fact, it seemed that the notion that Eve acquire knowledge first was an argument that women were in fact smarter than men. Eve was the first human being to desire and acquire knowledge. Adam did not acquire knowledge until Eve instructed him to do so. Thus, Eve was equally if not smarter of than her male companion. The author never mentioned this aspect of the Gen 2-3 story.

The author then went into a deep discussion about the physical nature of women, explaining that women were more physically sexual than men, but they were also deformed, considering that Eve was created from Adam's breast rib, which was bent differently than men. First of all, there was no physical deformity in women. Second, comparing the physical appearance of women with a man was unreasonable, considering that men and women were so much different than one another. It was like comparing two different fruits: a banana and a pear. A banana had many physical differences with a pear, but one person may favor the banana, and another may favor the pear. Thus, the author proved that his reasoning behind his argument was based more on opinion than factual details. The author went on, describing women as an imperfect animal (because she was formed from Adam's rib), and thus, an imperfect women, which caused her to deceive. In fact, the author noted that women used their tears to deceive men. Thus, it was clear that the author was basing his arguments off of personal experience rather than factual details. He also concluded that women were "weaker to hold and preserve the faith." As such, he believed that a woman's lack of intelligence He once again attempted to save himself by noting that it was in woman's nature to possess this negative traits, and that women, such as the Blessed Virgin Mary, did in fact have faith and were important figures in Christianity. However, it was obvious that the author's anti-feminist opinions effected the arguments he made.

The author then goes on to explain the various times in history in which "the world [had] been overthrown by women. He explained that Troy was destroyed by Helen's rape, Jews were destroyed through Jezebel, and Cleopatra brought evil upon the Romans. He referred to Cleopatra as "the worst of women." He then said that this was an obvious reason that women brought suffering into the world through their evils. He then quoted Valerius, who compared women to Chimaera, a mythical beast with the face of a lion, the "filthy belly of a goat" and a viper for a tail. Thus, he concluded that women were "beautiful to look upon, contaminating to the touch, and deadly to keep." He then went on to describe the voice of a woman, saying that women were inclined to lie, and could infect men with it while delighting them with it, like the Sirens, mythical creatures who sing to their prey, entice them, and kill them. He said that women "kill" men by spending their money, "consuming their strength," and cause them to forsake God. He also believed that a women's "gait, posture, habit," had similar intoxicating effects on men. In other words, every physical trait of a women intoxicated men, making them forsake knowledge and religion for bodily desires. He believed that women used their beauty and sexuality to get what they wanted from men. As such, the author demonstrated his interpretation of Eve. In other words, the author believed that Eve enticed Adam, much like the Sirens, into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Once again, his dearth of faith in women was accurate, and represented opinion rather than fact. Much of his references applied to Greek mythology, stories that were not necessarily true. Thus, the author's had lack of credibility.

The author then went on to explain why woman was the devil's helper so to speak. In the Garden of Eden, the snake (the devil) tempted Eve to sin, and yet the author could not help but point out that Eve then brought Adam down with her. If Eve had not "seduced" Adam, all of mankind would not have to suffer from Eve's sin. Adam was tempted by Eve, not the Devil, and so women were worse than the devil. By doing so, Eve destroyed the inner soul of men and caused suffering of the physical body. He then pointed out that men were caught by women through their own carnal desires, their sexuality. Women, thus, use their sexuality and men's attraction for them as an advantage to "cast their spells on men."

He concluded this section by stating all witchcraft "comes from carnal lust, which is in women insatiable." Thus, the author believed that women were the basis and origin of all bodily desires. He then stated that it was good that God protected men from possession by devils, since they were the more powerful and obedient than women. He believed God protected men and not women, and also thought that Christ died for the sins of Adam, not Eve, and thus for men and not women.

What Sort of Women Are Found to Be Above All Others Superstitious and Witches:

The author stated that three "vices" that were signs of a witch were "infidelity, ambition, and lust." All of these traits pointed back to Eve. Eve was not faithful to God, or perhaps not faithful to Adam, according to the Vita, which claimed that Eve had sex with demons. Others believed that Eve had sex with the snake in the garden. Furthermore, Eve demonstrated ambition. Rather than obey God and not eat from the Tree of Knowledge, Eve desired knowledge and thus went with her own free will. She was the first human being to demonstrate that one could determine their own destiny. She acquired knowledge before Adam, which was a direct manifestation of her ambition. Lust of course was referring to the author's belief that Eve seduced Adam to eat the fruit. Then, the author listed seven methods, or powers of witches: controlling minds of men, obstructing men's force, removing their penises, by changing men into beasts, making women infertile, abortion, and offering children to devils. Controlling minds of men, clearly, was a power that originated from the Garden of Eden story.

The author then went to an extended discussion about the first sin, in which the devil, through the snake, tempted Eve and thus, caused the fall of men by having Eve seduce Adam to eat the fruit as well. He pointed out that matrimony was ruined through the work of the devil, through women, who "satisfy their filthy lusts not only in themselves, but even in the mighty ones of the age, of whatever state and condition; causing by all sorts of witchcraft the death of their souls through excessive infatuation of carnal love, in such a way that for no shame or persuasion can they desist from such acts." Thus, the author portrayed witches as these sex-craving nymphomaniacs that lost their souls through their sexuality. As such, the author clearly obscured his view of women, and this was evident in his arguments. He was completely irrational. Like all humans, and men, women made mistakes.

Part I, Question VIII: Whether Witches Can Hebetate the Powers of Generation or Obstruct the Venereal Act:

The author stated that the powers of witchcraft were not only in men's imaginations, but they physically could be generated. The witches of course channel the devil's power through their bodies. He then pointed out that women whose husbands could not copulate with them was simply the devil's fault. The devil also had the power to both arouse and discourage men from copulating with women. The devil also could make a man infatuated with a women, since the devil had powers that effected the imagination. He could also prevent erections. Thus, erectile dysfunction, arousal, infatuation, and other sexual disorders were considered works of the devil, when, in reality, they were problems and sensations that arose from men's bodies. The author clearly had lack of scientific knowledge, especially considering the time at which the text was written. The author then explained the reason why men were bewitched by women, rather than women being bewitched. The answer, he pointed out, was because women were attracted to men, and vice versa. Once again, the author referred to a women's sexuality. Because women had a particular effect on men, he believed that women were at fault. But in reality, it was men's high levels of testosterone that drove them to pursue women. Men, physiologically, were much more sexual creations. Thus, it was men's sexuality, not just women's, that caused men to cheat on their wives. Like Adam, men decided to blame women for their faults, when they could have just refused to do what a women wanted. Adam could have told Eve he did not want to eat the fruit, but he listened to Eve anyway. Thus, it was not just Eve's fault, but also Adam's. The author acted like Adam, blaming women for his sins and flaws, where in reality, he was the ultimate controller of his destiny.

"On the Apparel of Women": Tertullian

The author's audience was all women, in which he attempted to persuade them a certain way but constantly referring to Eve's sin. He made a connection with Eve to all women, saying that because Eve was the devil's gateway, all women were. They destroyed Adam, God's image. He even blamed Eve, and thus all women, for the notion that even Christ had to die. He then went on to describe that women's concern for appearance and beauty were flaw in themselves. He believed that women should adopt a more conservative style of dress in order to repent much like Eve did in mourning when she was expelled from paradise. In other words, a women's dress should reflect a state of mourning, for a women's life should be spent repenting for Eve's sin. Thus, the author's interpretation of Gen 2-3 clearly were based on anti-feminist views. Women, to Tertullian, should live their lives trying to make up for Eve's sin. This idea was irrational.

Testament of Reuben:

In this text, the author clearly attempted to demonstrate the evil of women. He believed, much like the previous authors, that a women's beauty was her greatest weapon, capable of destroy the lives of men, much like Eve. He believed that despite women's lack of power over men, women had the ability and strategy capable of tricking men and using them to against their will for her own advantage. He also believed that women were more promiscuous than men. Once again, the author's credibility in this statement was implausible since it is now a scientific fact that men crave sex much more than women because of their physiological differences, such as levels of testosterone. The author went on stating that women used their lust to control the minds of men, and charmed them. It was men's desire for men that caused them to be controlled. In other words, the author stated the real reason why men commit certain sins. It was the men's flaws, not just the woman's, that caused sin. Women's minds were just as filled with lust, if not less, than men's, much as science has demonstrated in the present day. Thus, much like the rest of the readings, the author's beliefs seemed attributable to the time period, since many mysteries in science were not solved. The author's based their beliefs on stories such as the Garden of Eden, in which women were tricked and were the seductresses. But, in reality, men also brought about their own downfalls by lusting after women. It was engraved within their physical and emotional bodies. As such, it was a combination of the lust of men and women that caused the downfall of mankind.