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Definition of Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations intended to emphasize a point... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements... read full definition
Act 4, Scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Feminine Cruelty:
In the third scene of Act 4, Frederick walks in on Blunt in the midst of threatening Florinda with sexual violence. Feeling humiliated and vengeful, Blunt explains that "no prayers or tears shall mitigate [his] rage" because he is "resolved to make up [his] loss here on [her] body." Frederick backs up his buddy, hyperbolically describing women's cruelty toward men:
Have a care, Blunt, she fetched a deep sigh, she is enamoured with thy shirt and drawers, she’ll strip thee even of that; there are of her calling such unconscionable baggages, and such dexterous thieves, they’ll flay a man and he shall ne’er miss his skin, till he feels the cold.
Egging Blunt on, Frederick claims that Florinda has come to steal his shirt and drawers—the only items of clothing he retains after Lucetta robbed him. Frederick goes on to narrate the lengths women are willing to go to in their transgressions on men, claiming that that they would flay a man so unconscionably and dexterously that he wouldn't even realize what had happened until he began to feel cold. This is, needless to say, exaggeration, but it aptly captures Frederick's misogynistic view—as well as fear—of women. In addition, this exaggeration allows him to make fun of his foolish friend, as it takes a remarkable degree of ignorance to fail to notice oneself being flayed.
It is ironic for the men to hyperbolize female wickedness while they are in the midst of violating Florinda. In Frederick's view, a man who has had his clothes stolen by a woman is more vulnerable than a woman who is trapped in a room with two menacing men. This sheds light on the relationship that exists for them between one's clothing and sense of self—it seems that it is not only during Carnival that people wear costumes to feel empowered. In addition, Frederick's hyperbolic lines shed light on the male characters' fear of being deprived of their masculinity. As soon as Blunt loses his clothes or feels at the mercy of a woman, his frail masculinity expresses itself through rage and violence.
Both of the men apologize profusely when they learn of Florinda's nobility in the following act. They had no qualms about subjecting a lower-class woman to sexual violence, but once they find out that she is a "woman of quality," they are ashamed. At the end of the play, the audience is shocked to see Florinda forgiving Blunt and Frederick, as well as Willmore (who tried to rape her on the same pretenses earlier in the play) without much trouble.
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