The Crock of Gold · Chapter
XVII explained
The Thin Woman, after forgiving the Leprecauns, bakes three cakes for her journey to Angus Óg.
What happens
The Thin Woman, after forgiving the Leprecauns, bakes three cakes for her journey to Angus Óg. The children, Seumas and Brigid Beg, explore the woods and discover a crock of gold under a thorn bush. The Thin Woman encounters three supernatural figures representing Beauty, Strength, and Ugliness, but refuses their offers. She then meets a talkative stranger at a well and delivers a lengthy discourse to the children on the nature of gender relations.
Themes in this chapter
Gender and Power
The Thin Woman delivers a lengthy lesson on the war between sexes, advising Seumas to beware of women and Brigid to seek tyranny over men.
Duality and Unity
The three supernatural figures embody Beauty, Strength, and Ugliness as complementary aspects of existence, yet the Thin Woman rejects them to remain unified with her husband.
Happiness and Sacrifice
The Thin Woman performs the 'Forgiveness of Enemies' as a sacrifice to purify herself for the redemption of her husband.
Characters to notice
- Thin Woman of Inis Magrath
Bakes three cakes, forgives the Leprecauns, confronts three supernatural figures, and instructs the children on gender dynamics.
- Seumas Beg
Explores the woods with Brigid, digs up a crock of gold, and listens to the Thin Woman's advice.
- Brigid Beg
Accompanies Seumas in the woods, helps discover the gold, and receives separate instruction from the Thin Woman.
- Leprecauns of Gort na Cloca Mora
Forgiven by the Thin Woman for their crime against her husband.
- Meehawl MacMurrachu
His cottage is near where the children rest under a thorn bush.
Key passages
“The ability of the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath for anger was unbounded. She was not one of those limited creatures who are swept clean by a gust of wrath and left placid and smiling after its passing.”
The Thin Woman's anger was immense and lasting, unlike those who quickly calm down after a burst of rage.
Introduces the Thin Woman's capacity for sustained anger.
“Before the Thin Woman could undertake the redemption of her husband by wrath, it was necessary that she should be purified by the performance of that sacrifice which is called the Forgiveness of Enemies, and this she did by embracing the Leprecauns of the Gort and in the presence of the sun and the wind remitting their crime against her husband.”
To redeem her husband through anger, the Thin Woman first had to purify herself by forgiving the Leprecauns, which she did publicly.
Describes the ritual of forgiveness as a prerequisite for her mission.
“She taught that a man must hate all women before he is able to love a woman, but that he is at liberty, or rather he is under express command, to love all men because they are of his kind.”
She instructed that a man must first despise all women to truly love one, yet he is obliged to love all men as his brethren.
Part of the Thin Woman's controversial gender teachings.