If DREAMS and wishes were true there would hardly be found a maid in all the nunneries of Christendom

Insights

Appearance vs. Reality

The proverb highlights the universal conflict between outward appearances of piety and conformity (the nun's vow) and the inner reality of human desire, suggesting that what people profess is often at odds with what they secretly want.

The Futility of Suppression

It serves as a cynical commentary on the effectiveness of social or religious suppression, arguing that fundamental human instincts and desires cannot be eliminated by vows or institutional rules, only hidden from public view.

Fantasy vs. Reality

The proverb explores the vast gap between the world of imagination and fantasy ('dreams and wishes') and the constraints of real life. It suggests that our inner lives are rich with unfulfilled ambitions and desires that contradict our actual circumstances.

Historical Anti-Clericalism

The proverb taps into a long tradition of anti-clerical satire, particularly potent in post-Reformation England, which questioned the sincerity of monastic vows and often depicted members of religious orders as hypocritical.

Psychology of Repression

This proverb reflects a psychological understanding of repression, suggesting that suppressed desires do not disappear but remain potent in one's inner world of 'dreams and wishes', challenging the idea that external vows can erase fundamental human instincts.

Cultural Views on Female Sexuality

The proverb uses the figure of the nun to comment on the perceived universality of female desire, countering idealized notions of feminine purity by suggesting that sexual and romantic longings are natural to all women, even those sworn to chastity.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole

The sweeping claim that 'hardly be found a maid in all the nunneries of Christendom' is a deliberate exaggeration used for satirical and humorous effect, making a sharp point about the perceived hypocrisy of celibacy.

Situational Irony

The proverb's power comes from the ironic contrast between the setting (a nunnery, a symbol of ultimate purity and restraint) and the subject (widespread, concealed sexual desire).

Conditional Structure

The 'If... then...' structure creates a hypothetical premise that allows for a pointed and critical commentary on the real world, contrasting an imagined reality with a perceived one.