The Forgeries of Jealousy: Shakespeare’s Cuckoldry

Summary

This dissertation examines the literary and cultural tradition of cuckoldry and argues that Shakespeare reworks it by exposing it as a socially constructed product of male jealousy rather than a reflection of widespread female infidelity. Drawing on medieval and Renaissance traditions, the study situates cuckoldry as a pervasive cultural framework shaping ideas about marriage, honor, and gender. Shakespeare engages with this inherited lore but ultimately destabilizes it, portraying cuckoldry as a “forgery” generated by suspicion, social pressure, and psychological projection rather than empirical reality.

Key Findings

• Cuckoldry functioned historically as a dense cultural system of stereotypes, jokes, and moral assumptions about marriage, not merely a literary trope.
• Medieval and early Renaissance traditions normalized suspicion of wives and framed all husbands as potential cuckolds, reinforcing patriarchal anxieties.
• Shakespeare inherits this tradition but systematically challenges its assumptions, particularly the idea that women are inherently unfaithful.
• In Shakespeare’s plays, cuckoldry is often imagined rather than enacted; accusations arise from jealousy, rumor, or manipulation rather than actual adultery.
• The dissertation emphasizes that jealousy operates independently of truth, driven by psychology, honor culture, and social expectations rather than evidence.
• Shakespeare’s treatment suggests that relinquishing obsessive fear of infidelity allows for more stable relationships and social cohesion.

Clinical Relevance

While not a clinical text, the work is directly relevant to understanding relational anxiety, especially jealousy rooted in perception rather than evidence. It highlights how culturally reinforced narratives can amplify suspicion and distort interpretation of a partner’s behavior. For therapy-adjacent contexts, the dissertation offers a useful lens: jealousy often reflects internal insecurity and social conditioning rather than actual betrayal, and addressing those underlying dynamics may be more effective than focusing on external verification.

Interpretation

The dissertation reframes cuckoldry as a psychological and social construct rather than a behavioral reality. Shakespeare’s contribution lies in shifting the locus of the problem—from women’s supposed infidelity to men’s interpretive frameworks and emotional volatility. This interpretation aligns with the broader Renaissance transition from external honor codes toward more interiorized understandings of emotion and identity. The analysis is persuasive in demonstrating that jealousy operates as a self-reinforcing system: suspicion generates interpretation, which then produces “evidence” of betrayal. However, the argument depends heavily on literary representation and should not be generalized beyond its cultural and historical scope without caution.

Related Topics

• Cuckoldry and Jealousy in Shakespeare’s Othello

Sources

1. St. Pierre, R. L. (1982). The Forgeries of Jealousy: Shakespeare’s Cuckoldry. University of New Hampshire. Link