He makes two SONS-IN-LAW of one daughter

Insights

Deception and Over-promising

The proverb serves as a metaphor for over-promising or double-dealing. It describes someone who makes conflicting commitments to two different parties regarding a single, indivisible asset, creating expectations that cannot possibly be met.

Manipulative Negotiation

It illustrates a risky and manipulative strategy of playing two rivals against each other to gain a personal advantage. The 'father' keeps both 'suitors' engaged, likely hoping to extract the best possible outcome before being forced to choose, a tactic likely to backfire.

The Folly of Impossible Goals

The proverb warns against the folly of pursuing impossible or contradictory goals. Attempting to secure two mutually exclusive benefits from one opportunity is a foolish endeavor that will likely result in failure and the loss of both options.

Strategic Duplicity in Alliances

Historically, marriage was a critical tool for forming social and economic alliances. This proverb critiques the dangerous and dishonorable strategy of promising a single daughter to multiple suitors to hedge bets or extract better terms, a high-stakes gamble that risks turning potential allies into bitter enemies.

Classical and Cultural Parallels

The proverb has classical roots, as shown by the citation from Erasmus, indicating a long-standing European recognition of this particular form of deceptive negotiation. Its parallel to 'To stop two gaps with one bush' reveals a broader, cross-cultural theme: the folly of attempting to solve multiple problems with a single, inadequate resource.

Psychology of Deception

Psychologically, the proverb exposes the flawed thinking of a manipulator driven by greed or indecisiveness. It highlights a cognitive bias where an individual overestimates their ability to control outcomes and underestimates the fallout from broken promises, ultimately leading to a loss of trust and reputation.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole / Absurdity

The core image is a logical and social absurdity. This use of hyperbole creates a memorable and stark illustration of the foolishness and impossibility of the promiser's deceitful position.

Metaphor

The 'daughter' functions as a metaphor for any singular, valuable asset, while the 'sons-in-law' represent the competing parties or desired outcomes. This elevates a specific social scenario into a universal principle about resource management and integrity.

Irony

There is a strong situational irony in the proverb. The attempt to gain a double advantage through deception is almost certain to result in a double loss: alienating both parties and destroying one's own reputation.