Meaning & Analysis
Literally, the proverb asserts that feeling pity for a weeping woman is as senseless or unnecessary as feeling sorry for a goose walking without shoes—since geese naturally go barefoot and are none the worse for it.
Insights
Futility of Undue Pity
The proverb dismisses the need for excessive or misplaced sympathy, suggesting that some displays of distress—like a woman's tears or a goose's bare feet—do not warrant true pity or concern.
Cynicism Toward Emotional Expression
It implies skepticism toward the sincerity or seriousness of women's tears, hinting that such displays are natural or habitual and thus unworthy of special compassion.
Naturalness of Certain States
By equating women's weeping with geese going barefoot, the proverb normalizes both, portraying them as expected, harmless conditions that do not merit intervention.
Historical Gender Attitudes
The proverb reflects early modern English attitudes that often trivialized or distrusted women's emotional expressions, viewing them as routine and, at times, manipulative or inconsequential.
Cultural and Folkloric Parallels
Many cultures possess similar sayings that downplay the need for sympathy toward what are perceived as habitual or harmless complaints, illustrating a long tradition of gendered skepticism.
Psychological and Social Commentary
The saying reveals a psychological defense against emotional manipulation or over-involvement, recommending emotional detachment in the face of habitual displays of sadness.
Rhetorical Devices
Simile
The proverb uses direct comparison—'as great a pity...as a goose go barefoot'—to equate two scenarios, highlighting their supposed equivalence in absurdity.
Irony
There is ironic humor in pretending to pity a goose for lacking shoes, just as the proverb feigns concern for women's weeping, thus subtly mocking both.
Hyperbole
The exaggerated premise of pitying a goose for its bare feet intensifies the proverb’s dismissive tone, making its point through comic overstatement.
Transcription
Quotations
By thys tale ye may se that the olde prouerbe ys trew that yt is as gret pyte to se a woman wepe as a gose to go barefote.
Yt is as great pyte, to se a woman wepe As yt is to se, a sely dodman crepe Or as ye wold say, a sely goose go barefote.
For by the common prouerbe, a woman will weepe for pitie to see a gosling goe barefoote.
It dois a woman no more harme to greit [weep] nor a goose to go barefoote.
(It is as much pittie and as it is to see).
With many such, no less impertinent, then Pathetical Interrogatories; which he would use, if he were but speaking of a Goose's going bare-foot.
It is na mair pittie to see a woman greit, nor to see a goos go bair fit.
Ther's no more pitty to be taken of a woman weeping then of a Goose going bare-foot.
Not to be willing that Geese should go bare-foot, viz. to have com-passion where there's no need; To pittie a Goose going bare-foot say the English.
[As in 1641 Ferg.]
(As great pity).
It is no more Sin to see a Woman greet, than to see a Goose go barefoot.
It is no more Sin to see a Woman weep, than to see a Goose go barefoot.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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