logo

37 pages 1 hour read

The Burgermeister's Daughter: Scandal in a Sixteenth-Century German Town

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1996

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Themes

Anna’s Struggle was Exacerbated by 16th-Century Sexism—But Not Too Much?

Much of what Anna endured throughout the course of her life—from being legally kidnapped and locked in her father’s home for six months to her virtual disinheritance after her father’s death—would be all but unthinkable in a modern context. Anna, however, lived in 16th-century Germany, which restricted women’s rights in ways that exacerbated her struggles with her family. Nevertheless, throughout the course of the narrative, Steven Ozment downplays the severity of 16th-century sexism in anticipation of the reader’s likely preconceptions about the past.

Anna lived during a time when a simple outburst from a woman could signify more than just anger. She took a huge risk when she dared to be impolite in the presence of a delegation sent to dissuade her from litigation because “such arrogance, vulgarity, and anger in a public forum were associated at this time with witches, not with honorable women and loyal citizens” (155). Her “immodest” dress and flirtatious behavior also reflected poorly on her family—specifically, on her father—which became a point of resentment that triggered lifelong infighting.

While acknowledging that the 16th century was a more sexist time in Germany (and many other places) than the 20th, Ozment defends it against the stereotypes that he believes readers might hold about the past.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 37 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools