A WOMAN, like a German clock, is still¹ repairing (never goes true)

Insights

Inherent Unreliability

The proverb asserts that women are inherently complex, fickle, and emotionally unpredictable. Like a faulty clock that 'never goes true', their moods and loyalties are seen as inconsistent and unreliable.

High Maintenance and Complexity

It suggests women are high-maintenance and require constant attention and effort, whether in terms of their appearance, emotional needs, or desires. The 'repairing' alludes to the elaborate rituals of dress and cosmetics, as well as emotional management.

Artifice and Deception

The comparison to a mechanical object implies a sense of artifice. A woman's appearance and demeanor are presented as a constructed facade, something 'put together' like a machine, rather than natural or genuine.

Objectification and Ownership

Fundamentally, the proverb objectifies women, reducing them to flawed possessions. Like a ship or a mill, as suggested by the cross-references, a woman is depicted as an asset that is also a perpetual source of trouble and expense.

Historical Symbolism

The proverb taps into the Renaissance reputation of German clocks as intricate, technologically advanced, yet notoriously unreliable mechanical marvels. This historical context makes the comparison potent, equating women with complex, high-maintenance objects that, despite their sophistication, are fundamentally flawed.

Cultural Misogyny

This proverb is a stark artifact of early modern misogyny, reflecting a patriarchal society's anxieties about female nature. By comparing women to faulty machines, it objectifies them and frames their perceived complexities not as human depth but as mechanical defects requiring constant 'repair' or management.

Literary Resonance

The frequent use of this simile by prominent dramatists like Shakespeare, Jonson, and Middleton highlights its status as a popular cultural trope. It served as a ready-made satirical shorthand for female fickleness and the perceived artifice of feminine appearance and behavior.

Psychological Insight

Psychologically, the proverb reveals a desire to control and diminish what is perceived as unpredictable. By framing female complexity as a mechanical flaw ('never goes true'), it attempts to impose a simple, dismissive logic onto the nuanced and often misunderstood aspects of female identity and emotion.

Rhetorical Devices

Simile

The proverb is built on a direct and explicit simile ('like a German clock'), which makes the derogatory comparison sharp and unambiguous.

Double Entendre

The phrase 'never goes true' functions as a powerful double entendre. For the clock, it means inaccuracy. For the woman, it implies infidelity, dishonesty, and emotional inconstancy, adding a layer of cynical wit.

Satirical Stereotype

The proverb employs a broad, misogynistic stereotype to deliver its satirical message, relying on a culturally understood, albeit prejudiced, view of both women and German craftsmanship of the era.