Meaning & Analysis
One should acknowledge a red-haired man or a bearded woman from a great distance, implying they are dangerous and should be avoided for safety.
Insights
Prejudice and Fear of the 'Other'
The proverb serves as a powerful metaphor for deep-seated prejudice, warning against individuals who deviate from social and physical norms. The 'red man' and 'bearded woman' symbolize anyone perceived as an outsider or 'other'.
Unnatural as a Sign of Evil
Metaphorically, the proverb cautions against anything that appears unnatural or subverts expectations. It reflects a belief that such deviations are outward signs of inner corruption, deceit, or evil, as noted in the historical association of these figures with falseness and witchcraft.
Symbol of Betrayal
The figures symbolize hidden threats and betrayal. Just as red hair was linked to the treacherous Judas, the proverb suggests that unconventional appearances signal untrustworthy character and potential danger that should be kept at a safe remove.
Historical Physiognomy
The proverb is rooted in the historical practice of physiognomy, the belief that physical traits reveal one's character. Red hair was culturally associated with Judas Iscariot, symbolizing treachery and untrustworthiness, a prejudice evident in early modern European societies.
Gender Non-Conformity
A bearded woman represented a profound violation of traditional gender roles and the natural order. This transgression was seen as unnatural and demonic, directly linking such non-conformity to witchcraft, as explicitly stated in the 1623 quotation.
Psychology of 'Othering'
This saying powerfully illustrates the psychological mechanism of 'othering'. By singling out unusual physical traits, it creates easily identifiable scapegoats, projecting societal fears of betrayal, chaos, and the supernatural onto marginalized individuals.
Fear of Contamination
The proverb's advice to keep an extreme distance reflects a deep-seated cultural anxiety about contamination by those deemed morally or supernaturally corrupt. The physical 'marks' were seen as outward signs of an inner contagion to be avoided at all costs.
Rhetorical Devices
Hyperbole
The specified distance of 'three miles' is a deliberate exaggeration used to underscore the extreme level of fear, distrust, and avoidance recommended when encountering such individuals.
Symbolism
The 'red man' is a symbol of betrayal and deceit, historically linked to Judas Iscariot. The 'bearded woman' symbolizes the unnatural, witchcraft, and a subversion of the established order.
Parallelism
The balanced structure of 'a red man and a bearded woman' creates a memorable and rhythmic pairing of two distinct but equally feared archetypes of societal non-conformity.
Transcription
Quotations
If thou meete a red man, and a bearded woman, greet them three myle of.
Wheresoeuer you are, beware of red men, of women that are bearded, and of such as God hath marked.
Salute no red haired Man, nor Barded Woman, neerer then thirtie Foot off, with three Stones in thy Hands for to deffend thee in a Need. So meant (of the common Sort) that such Men be false, and such Women Witches.
Salute no red hair'd man, nor bearded woman nearer then thirty foot off, with three stones in thy fist to defend thee in thy need.
A red man, and a bearded woman salute them three leagues off.
Touching a red-haired man and bearded woman, salute them a hundred paces off.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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