The Crock of Gold · Chapter
II explained
The Philosophers dispense wisdom to visitors while their wives hoard knowledge.
What happens
The Philosophers dispense wisdom to visitors while their wives hoard knowledge. One Philosopher, feeling he has exhausted all wisdom, dies by spinning. His wife, the Grey Woman, keens over him and then also dies by spinning. The remaining Philosopher meditates while the Thin Woman buries the bodies.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom vs. Knowledge
The Philosophers value giving away knowledge, while their wives hoard it. The dying Philosopher claims wisdom has crushed him, contrasting with the wives' practical cunning.
Duality and Unity
Opposing maxims of the Philosophers and their wives, and the paradox of life and death, wisdom and folly, are central to the chapter.
Gender and Power
The Grey Woman asserts women are stronger and wiser than men, and the wives control knowledge differently from their husbands, highlighting gender dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Seumas Beg
One of the children, deeply interested in visitors and their problems, learns from overheard conversations.
- Thin Woman of Inis Magrath
Wife of the surviving Philosopher; holds contrary maxims about knowledge, buries the dead, and smacks the children.
- Grey Woman of Dun Gortin
Wife of the deceased Philosopher; applauds his death, keens over him, then dies by spinning.
- Meehawl MacMurrachu
Mentioned as a visitor who might come for advice, but not directly appearing in this chapter.
Key passages
“Knowledge becomes lumber in a week, therefore, get rid of it.”
Knowledge quickly becomes useless clutter, so you should discard it.
A maxim of the Philosophers, emphasizing the value of sharing wisdom.
“A secret is a weapon and a friend. Man is God’s secret, Power is man’s secret, Sex is woman’s secret.”
Secrets are both tools and allies; each gender holds a fundamental secret.
A maxim of the wives, contrasting with the Philosophers' openness.
“The greatest of all virtues is curiosity, and the end of all desire is wisdom.”
Curiosity is the highest virtue, and wisdom is the ultimate goal of all longing.
The surviving Philosopher's response to his brother's decision to die.
“Women are stronger than men—they do not die of wisdom. They are better than men because they do not seek wisdom. They are wiser than men because they know less and understand more.”
Women are stronger and better because they don't pursue wisdom; they understand more by knowing less.
The Grey Woman's keen, asserting female superiority through practical understanding.