My wife has a new found fascination with the castrotto (17th century boys who were castrated to keep there voices prepubescent for singing purposes) She has been reading a book (Anne Rice), talking about, studing and possibling writing a book in which revolves around them and their struggles. Should I be worried?
2007-06-09 08:01:18 · 20 answers · asked by isanynameavialable 2 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Had Anne Rice written a book about rape I would not be answering this question. If We had a Men's Studies section Your question would be treated with respect.
No. The castrato tradition goes back to Roman times. Boys at an age of about 6-8 years of age were castrated by Their Mothers (often assisted by the other Female members of the family) so that the singing voice could be retained throughout the singers life. The procedure was quite simple. The testicles were squeezed, by hand, until they became too bruised to function, withered and died. You can imagine that this was an horrific act of cruelty. But the Roman Mothers were assured of a place of prominence in religious and cultural events. The death rate as phenomenal. I once read that for every 'successful' the rate was something in the neighborhood of 750 deaths to a survivor. Nice neighborhood. Please try to remember that there was no anesthesia, antibiotics nor antiseptics available to these "sacrificed" boys. They died from blood poisoning, shock, often heart attacks, and the usual infections that one could expect to find from a rotting, putrefaction that had once been a pair of perfectly healthy testicles. They died in an agony which would make child birth look like a day at the beach.
Your Wife is merely showing the same perverse fascination for emasculation that most Women exhibit. Were She a Man thinking along similar lines with regards Females the word deviant or pervert might well be used in conjunction with Her 'interests'. The fact that You are now living with the equivalent of a potential sex offender should cause some lively debate in certain quarters.
You might want to audit to responses from the Female population. I will bet You that the whole issue will be treated as a joke by many.
2007-06-09 08:22:37 · answer #1 · answered by Ashleigh 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Don't take it seriously. She is just captivated by something in history that most have never heard of. Anne Rice has romanticized it, as well, like she does to everything she writes about. She'll likely get bored with it after a time...and if she doesn't, she'll be swept up by some amazing opera history.
I beg to differ with the poster below me who seems to think that women are all going to respond to this as being a big joke. The process of castration in much of the world's history was quite dangerous and many perished, yes. It is not something I would ever consider joke-worthy, nor would I think it good for today's time.
Anne Rice DOES romanticize many things...and she writes eroticism into it all, including the Castrato singers of Italy. Someone gave me the book and I couldn't get through it because it was full of ridiculousness.
2007-06-09 08:17:40 · answer #2 · answered by jade_calliope 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Worried, LOL not at all
Castrati, were amazing singers and some of them have very interesting lives, like Farinelli, the last castrato. They even made a film and they tried to imitate the possible voice in the studio mixing a tenor and a contralto. The result is the most exquisite voice I have heard. Nevertheless it was a cruel practice and don't worry, in our days it is forbidden ;-)
2007-06-09 08:46:48 · answer #3 · answered by Flyinghorse 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
If your wife has been "studing" and "possibling" I think you should be worried. Or maybe use spell checker ;o)
Seriously, I don't think we have enough information to determine concern. If she is considering writing a book about their "struggles", that might indicate a different posture.
The castrotto is different from the perspective of motive of genital mutilation that is practiced currently in Sub-Saharan African countries and other places, of young females by older women.
Genital mutilation is still genital mutilation. Perhaps it is just shock and curiosity that is driving her. This writer doesn't know.
2007-06-09 10:24:20 · answer #4 · answered by Sam 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You're too old, you can't sing anyway and the 17th century is long since over.
Apart from those details, yes - perhaps you are right to worry.
2007-06-09 17:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
It really depends on your definition of safe sex.
Jokes apart mate maybe you ought to ask her why she is readin this material and what she thinks about it and then take it up from there.
In todays age they can always say they became temprarily insane like Lorena Bobbitt.
Take care mate!!!
2007-06-09 08:09:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
This question's a joke, right? How old are you?
Yeah, what a weird dangerous psychopath any woman who likes to read intellectually stimulating material must be. You'd better go buy her a truckload of stupefying romance novels before she gets too smart for you.
2007-06-09 10:21:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
No i would not worry about it. Just hide all the kitchen knives before bed :)
2007-06-09 09:15:22 · answer #8 · answered by omorris1978 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
LOL No! Don't be silly. Do you honestly believe she's going to start to want you castrated? Can you even sing for Pete's sake???
2007-06-09 08:04:49 · answer #9 · answered by Jack S 3 · 5⤊ 3⤋
Only if you are 12 years of age or under.
Good luck
2007-06-09 11:38:30 · answer #10 · answered by Croa 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋