Psychological Evaluation #1
Case Study Subject: Saint Jerome of Rome, Italy
Case Study Focus: Sexual repulsion
The subject has been documented to repeatedly proclaim that sex is something that should never be an act committed. To the subject, sex is a sin. To be pure, one must be virginal until death. This will allow the deceased to have access to heaven. Throughout life, the subject has been rather adamant about spreading the word of how wrong the act may be.
What the study of this individual has concluded is that Saint Jerome of Rome, Italy is repulsed by sex. This repulsion is said to have been created in a root that stems from his major beliefs in the word of the Scriptures. However, these analyzations of the Bible can be interpreted to be incredibly skewed because many people before Jerome had no views of these specific beliefs.
Jerome has spoken about virginity being the main problem behind his spreading of the message. He has spoken incredibly about preserving daughters and urging wives to leave their husbands. But, in fact, Jerome has actually never been able to commit the act of sexual intercourse because of an intense deeply-rooted fear of both the act and of God. These aversions have led to an unhealthy behavior common in those that have very specific and generalized fears.
Saint Jerome of Rome, Italy has been diagnosed with sexual repulsion.
Psychological Evaluation #2
Case Study Subject: Saint Augustine of Hippo
Case Study Focus: Possibility of insanity
Saint Augustine of Hippo was a revered and respected man that actually had some common sense (for the time period) regarding his views on sexuality and marriage. He believed that the only limitations of marriage should be that sex was saved for the act of procreation. He also believed that masturbation and homosexual acts were frowned upon, as neither produce children. However, he was not deadset against any of these possible sexual encounters because he realized that things happen. Augustine’s standards were based around that of marriage was beautiful because it mimicked the bond between God and people. He ultimately addressed marriage as being a social construct and institution, but certainly necessary in everyday life.
Because Augustine actually had views that were not completely outlandish in comparison to other people of his time (e.g. Jerome), it is actually pretty strange that Augustine could be considered mentally sound. Therefore, there could be a possible diagnosis placed upon Saint Augustine of Hippo that there are possibilities of medieval insanity, due to his openminded and accepting nature.
Psychological Evaluation #3
Case Study Subject: Lothair II of Lotharingia
Case Study Focus: Psychopolitics and manipulation of a population
King Lothair II of Lotharingia has been cited as having an incredible amount of trials and tribulations during his reign as king. Throughout his reign, he was in love with a woman, with whom he had an illegitimate child with. However, he was married to another woman who was unable to bear children. Therefore, the subject decided to divorce his current wife to be with his lover. This, however, was not allowed in the church for obvious reasons, so he claimed that his current wife has committed sexual acts with her brother before their marriage in order for the marriage to be annulled.
This use of tactics caused the church and politics to split in decisions on marriage. This event also caused an uprising within the public eye, calling for extermination of the current wife, as they deemed her disgusting and that incest is reason for death. This manipulation of the public led King Lothair to be even more propelled into acceptance and reverence. Finally, the split that was committed between the church and politics caused for a complete change in how the region was run was an incredible alteration in how Lothair and the kingdom was perceived. Although complications arose after Lothair’s death surrounding the throne’s heir, much of the country did not recognize how much they had been manipulated until much later on.
King Lothair II of Lotharingia has been diagnosed with being a psychopolitician and a manipulator of his kingdom and population.
Psychological Evaluation #4
Case Study Subject: Mathilda, Queen of the Romans
Case Study Focus: Obsession (with philanthropy remove)
Mathilda, Queen of the Romans has gone through life being nothing but philanthropic. However, this has definitely proved an issue in her personal life, relationships, and endeavors.
In her earlier years of life, Mathilda was from a rather questionable background, but rose into royalty with grace and simplicity. When she married Henry I, the marriage was decent. However, Mathilda soon began dedicating herself to her desire to spread good. She began to co-mingle with commoners, leaving her husband’s bed in the middle of the night to go to chapel to pray, going on pilgrimages, and taking a new vow of virginity.Mathilda was also documented as committing a couple of so-called “miracles,” which led to her being more revered and loved by commoners.
These acts became of reason for Henry I to try and divorce her, due to her behaviour and not being interested in him anymore. This led to immense trouble for his political life and values. After Henry I death, she became even more devout and holy. Mathilda gave up basically all of her earthly possessions and entered into a convent, which she helped found.
Mathilda’s releasing of all earthly binds shows that she possibly had an obsessive desire for philanthropy and God. Her obsessions can eventually boil down to the thought that she might not have been all mentally sound.
Psychological Evaluation #5
Case Study Subject: Troubadours
Case Study Focus: Emotionally Disturbed Stalking
The Troubadours, however not one person but rather a group of people, have definitely shown signs of being mentally sick. All have consistently written poetry and songs that are meant to admired loves and suitors from far away. Many of these loves have never even been introduced or spoken to before.
Although these poems and songs are often described as using artistic and beautiful language to mask their true meanings, some of the works are often vulgar, or even downright perverted. This has led to the analyzation of some of these works as being creepy and synonymous with work that is from an actual stalker. One particular poem has been cited as being a work that continuously speaks about watching a lover from afar and thinking how to approach said lover, only to never actually be with said lover, but still continuing to stalk this person. This is a basic and generic plot line among the works of the Troubadours and can show how interestingly disturbing they can be.
There may be an issue with diagnosing ALL of the Troubadours with an ailment. Granted, not all of the Troubadours wrote as equally creepy of poetry or songs as the others, but there still is a major cause for concern that could potentially lead to questioning and desire for explanation. Therefore, all Troubadours will be diagnosed with questionable and emotionally disturbed stalking.
Psychological Evaluation #6
Case Study Subject: Abelard and Heloise
Case Study Focus: Marriage Counseling and Aggression
The couple of Peter Abelard and Heloise d’Argenteuil have been seeing a marriage counselor for an extended period of time due to personal and marital issues that have yet to be resolved. The couple met while Abelard was tutoring Heloise and they began having an affair. She became impregnated and Abelard was then castrated. This led to marital issues afterwards because he then created a female monastery, which he promptly sent Heloise to, and he himself went to live in a separate monastery.
After settling few a few years into their respective monasteries, letters started to be sent back and forth between the couple. These letters highlighted the aggression from Heloise towards Abelard and the obliviousness and audaciousness of Abelard towards Heloise’s feelings.
The counseling has ranged from one-on-one talking with a mediator, to expressing one another’s feeling through interpretative dance and song. No method has been successful. This is because Heloise’s aggression has been mounted and astronomical because Abelard is unable to recognize what he did wrong. (This was determined to be due to lack of empathy from his decreased levels of testosterone from the incident of castration.)
So far, Heloise has been diagnosed with extreme aggression. No diagnosis for Abelard yet.
Psychological Evaluation #7
Case Study Subject: Marie De France
Case Study Focus: Sexual deviancy
Marie de France, although anonymous, is quite easy to understand in terms of sexuality. The author, whoever she may be, has expressed openly and happily about her content with leaving a husband for a lover. She has also expressed in many of her lais that love makes one act spontaneously and foolishly.
Within her writings, much can be interpreted that love, sex, and marriage are completely different feelings and things. You may be married to someone, but love does not have to exist within that marriage. Sex might co-exist with love, but love can be had without physical sex. There can be love within marriage, but it manifests itself more-so in ways of friendship, than sexual and romantic love.
She often sets a tone of suggesting that societal prudishness is very existent and plays a very import role in the dichotomy of love and marriage. Many people marry for political reasons instead of love. Marie de France completely rejects and despises this idea. For this reason, she claims that it is totally acceptable to leave a husband for a lover because love is much more important than status.
This leads to a diagnosis of sexual deviancy, as Marie de France goes against societal norms and expectations regarding sex, love, and marriage, and her stories do a very good job of portraying her beliefs, even if people do not believe in these same beliefs.
Psychological Evaluation #8
Case Study Subject: Iwein
Case Study Focus: Polyamory
Adultery is by no means unheard of in medieval times, but Iwein’s case is one of extreme recognition.
Iwein was a simple knight of King Arther’s when he decided he wanted to go on an adventure with his “friend.” While out adventuring and searching for his honour that was stripped from him, he stumbles into some trouble that leads him into a tight spot. He, however, is helped out of this trouble by a handmaiden named Lunete. He quickly falls in love with her. Just when he thinks he wants to commit, he meets another woman, Laudine, who is very caring and a good person. Iwein loves both women, but in different ways. That being said, it could be said that Iwein is not only committing adultery by sleeping with both women, but he is also in an nonconsenting polyamourous relationship because he does love them both, just in different ways.
Iwein relationships with these two women may also be considered misogynistic, considering both can be considered placeholders for lack of affection and sanity. But Iwein’s polyamourous way of living eventually leads him to a rather problematic situation.
Psychological Evaluation #9
Case Study Subject: Wife of Bath
Case Study Focus: Feminine sexual promiscuity
The Wife of Bath, also known as Alisoun, has an incredibly vulgar and promiscuous way of speaking in the telling of her prologue and tale.
Her original prologue spoke of how she was married five times since she was twelve years of age, and how each of these husbands has incredibly impacted her means and ways of conducting herself around others. She used sex as a means of control for her husbands, often whom would allow her to be sexually promiscuous, just so that they wouldn’t have to deal with her attitude or aggressive demeanor. She faced criticism by those that would call her a slut by saying that giving into virginity just to be pure would allow her to reach perfection and that she didn’t want perfection, therefore why should she bother?
She is also documented in saying that the penis and vagina were not made to simply purge urine, but to procreate and have pleasure. She took full advantage of these views and had multiple suitors, all of whom bowed to her every whim. Alisoun was a master manipulator and used her femininity to get what she wanted.
Alisoun also displayed aggressive tendencies, as her personality was boisterous and she at one point assaulted one of her husbands due to her anger.
Alisoun can easily be diagnosed with sexual promiscuity.
Psychological Evaluation #10
Case Study Subject: Marescalco
Case Study Focus: Denial of Homosexuality
The play, Il Marescalco, tells the tale of a man who is forced to marry a young woman. However, this play is actually a comedy and the woman the man marries is actually a young page boy in disguise. How you could mistake a page boy for a young bride is beyond the researchers, but, this eventually leads to tauts by the lead’s friends. This then leads to denial of homosexuality throughout the play as a means of keeping identity and honor sound.
This denial of homosexuality can be related back to the different definitions of homosexuality in medieval times, versus that of the definition in modern times. Homosexuality in medieval times was something of complete disgust, however, “bromances” were completely common and love was something shared between friends. Romantic love and sexual love were separate of course, but it was not incredibly frowned upon to elope or have affairs with friends of any gender.
The denial of homosexuality leads to an inconclusive diagnosis: either homophobia, or homosexuality. Or both. But right now, this is unsure of and must be investigated further.
Psychological Evaluation #11
Case Study Subject: Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland
Case Study Focus: Misandry (despite not really existing)
Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland was documented to largely be a woman of tenaciousness and business. Despite an early life of hardship due to her sister, Mary, Queen of Scots’ rule and basic house arrest, Elizabeth led and ruled with an iron fist with a sense of determination and sarcasm.
The biggest problem with her rule, according to her followers and Parliament, was that of her virginal desire to not marry a husband. This led to issues because there would be no successor in the event of her death. Despite much push, she remained pure and single until her death.
These attributes of the Queen could lead to possibilities of accused elopment, treason, or the possibility of treason. However, some also said that the Queen was a strong hater of men.
Multiple times, she was addressed by letters from commoners and her Parliament and each time, she responded with a general feeling of it being none of anyone else’s business and that she did not want to involved herself with such “hardship” or annoyance. Basically, she was a the queen, they were the followers, and she could do what she wanted. However, her speeches often had an overtone of not wanting to associate with men as a means of keeping her sanity. This could lead to a possibiltiy that Queen Elizabeth I was a misandrist.
Psychological Evaluation #12
Case Study Subject: John Falstaff
Case Study Focus: Narcissism
John Falstaff, a rather generic character written by Shakespeare that appears in Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor, is a typical knight known for his cowardice, naivety, and self-absorption.
Throughout The Merry Wives of Windsor, John Falstaff’s attitude is retched. His main goal is to court two aristocratic wives in order to obtain their company, status, and money. Because of his failing stature in the courts, he feels like this may be his only chance to accelerate his popularity again. However, the ways he goes about trying to gain said popularity are foolish, gullible, and only involve his own personal gain. But because the women figure out what is actually going on and work against him together, it is easy to see that he is, in fact, incredibly absurd.
John Falstaff’s idiotic personality is also coupled with his insanely large ego. Although he does not have much to be proud of, he speaks so highly of himself, preens, and tries to prove himself worthy of praise, although completely unsuccessfully.
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