The Misogynist of a Phallocentric Era: Samuel Pepys

After examining the distasteful and objective view of women throughout the diary of Samuel Pepys, it can be determined that he is a misogynist. A misogynist is defined as one who looks down upon women and in the more harsh sense one who hates women. The era of which Pepys lived in was phallocentric, meaning it was centered upon the man in society.                                                                                  
There are various quotes throughout Pepys' diary that support his poor attitude towards women:   -At one point Pepys states, “I did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her face and nose”(“1 January 1662,” Pepys Diary). Pepys seemingly does not find it abnormal to hit his wife and willingly includes that he hits his wife throughout his diary.                                                                                       
-At the conclusion of an evening, Pepys dismally says,"There was a good and great dinner, and the company, Mr. William Montagu and his Lady(but she seemed so far from the beauty that I expected her from my Lady’s talk to be that it put me into an ill humour all the day, to find my expectation so lost)(“2 January 1662”). These statements embody the disrespect and objective view of women that Pepys has.

  -Speaking of his uncle Fenner’s wife, Pepys states, “to my uncle Fenner’s, where I found his new wife, a pitiful, old, ugly, illbred woman in a hatt, a midwife” (“23 January 1662”). Pepys has a strong distaste for women, especially the ugly ones or those who are not willing to please his libidinal desires. 
-Pepys is not hesitant nor does he show much of any discretion in his words and actions directed towards women. Annoyed with his maid, Pepys states, “So home and to read, I being troubled to hear my wife rate though not without cause at her mayd Nell, who is a lazy slut. So to prayers and to bed” (“12 January 1662”). The juxtaposition of him saying prayers directly after his rude remarks is an ironic display of his rashness towards women. 

             In conclusion, Pepys lived throughout a phallocentric era in which his extreme distaste and judgment of women characterize him as a misogynist. 

List of Works Cited

Pepys, Samuel. “January 1662”. Ed. Phil Gyford. pepysdiary.com. n.d Web. 18 January 2011.