This is a goodly MARRIAGE (match) were the woman away

Insights

The Deal-Breaking Flaw

The proverb describes an opportunity that is nearly perfect but contains a single, fundamental flaw that ruins its overall appeal. The 'woman' represents this inescapable, deal-breaking element.

Cynical View of Partnership

It functions as a piece of misogynistic humor, suggesting that the societal or financial benefits of marrying a particular woman are desirable, but the woman herself is seen as a burden or the primary drawback.

Inherent Contradiction

The saying highlights the absurdity of wanting the advantages of a situation without accepting its essential, defining components. It points to a desire for an impossible ideal, free from all complications.

Transactional Marriage Critique

Originating in a patriarchal era, the proverb reflects a time when marriages, especially among the affluent, were often strategic alliances for securing wealth or status. The 'woman' in this context symbolizes the personal and relational obligations that come with the desirable material assets of the 'match'.

Psychology of Desire

The saying captures a common psychological conflict: desiring the benefits of a situation (e.g., wealth, stability) while resenting its core requirements or consequences. It speaks to the human tendency to wish for ideal outcomes stripped of their inherent challenges.

Satirical Undertones

The proverb's cynical wit is characteristic of Renaissance satire, which often targeted social institutions. It uses dark humor to expose the dehumanizing nature of viewing marriage as a mere transaction, where a partner is seen as an inconvenient attachment to their dowry.

Rhetorical Devices

Irony and Paradox

The core of the proverb is its paradoxical and ironic nature. A marriage is defined by the union of two people, so wishing one away makes the entire concept nonsensical, which is the source of its cynical humor.

Hyperbole

The statement is an extreme exaggeration used to emphasize the perceived negative aspect of the woman's involvement, making a sharp, satirical point about the burdens of a relationship versus its benefits.

Subjunctive Mood

The use of the subjunctive mood ('were the woman away') frames the idea as a hypothetical, impossible wish, effectively communicating a sense of dissatisfaction with an unchangeable reality.