Meaning & Analysis
A weathercock is a tool that physically turns with every shift in the wind to show its direction. The proverb literally compares someone or something to this object, indicating they are unstable and change direction constantly.
Insights
Fickleness and Inconstancy
The proverb primarily critiques human inconstancy, describing a person who frequently and easily changes their opinions, loyalties, or affections, lacking any firm conviction of their own.
Unreliability and Untrustworthiness
It serves as a metaphor for unreliability. A person as 'wavering as a weathercock' cannot be trusted because their commitments and positions are subject to change based on the slightest external influence.
Political and Social Opportunism
In a social or political context, it symbolizes opportunism, referring to individuals who shift their allegiances or beliefs to align with the prevailing power or popular opinion rather than adhering to consistent principles.
Cultural and Historical Symbolism
The weathercock, often placed on church steeples, creates an ironic contrast between the steadfastness of faith and the fickleness of human nature, which it symbolizes. Its visibility makes it a public metaphor for shifting loyalties.
Psychological Insight
The proverb critiques a lack of a stable internal 'compass'. Psychologically, it points to an externally-driven personality, one that is overly susceptible to social pressure or prevailing trends rather than guided by firm principles.
Embedded Cultural Bias
Cross-references like 'A woman is a weather-cock' reveal historical gender biases, using the metaphor to stereotype women as inherently more changeable and emotionally unreliable than men.
Rhetorical Devices
Simile
The proverb is a direct simile, using 'as...as' to create a powerful and easily understood comparison between a person's character and the object's function.
Symbolism
The weathercock is a potent symbol for the abstract concept of changeability, translating an internal quality into a vivid, universally recognizable external object.
Alliteration
The alliteration of 'wavering' and 'weathercock' enhances the proverb's rhythmic quality, making it more memorable and impactful.
Transcription
Quotations
Common people, which be more variable then the Weathercocke.
The wauering and wandering affections of people, as vn-stable as the winde, or as variable as a weather cocke.
Suche as like waueryng weathercocks, with euery blast turne rounde.
He is lyk ane widder cok in the wind.
Since thou as Weather-cocke dost change.
The subjects flockit king David to restore .. People like weather-cocks wav'd with the wind.
He is like a widder cock.
To be a weather-cock, viz. unconstant in any undertaking.
You are as unconstant as the wind; as wavering as the weathercock. One knows not where to have you.
Some are as changeable as weather-Cocks in their humours.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.