HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE H0032 4/4/00 "THE QUIET WOMAN QUESTION". ==================================================== From: "Stéphanie Humbert" Subject: The Quiet Woman Inn Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 14:52:38 GMT Bonjour à tous, I am a French student in fourth year at Paris X-Nanterrre, and I am doing my master on Thomas Hardy’s representation of women, based essentially on The Return and Jude – the idea of which was actually given to me last year at the University of Aberdeen by Mr. Martin Ray who made us discover the beauty and depth of Thomas Hardy’s novels. I have been following the discussions of the group for a few months but never dared taking part as my knowledge of Hardy is still very limited compared to you all. However I am hoping that someone will help me : indeed, I was wondering whether it was common in 19th century England to find such signs as that of « The Quiet Woman inn », with « the figure of a matron carrying her head under her arm ». Was it a stereotype or would it be appropriate to interpret that sign as a symbol that Hardy made up? I hope my question does not seem too stupid ! ! : ) Best wishes, Stéphanie Humbert. ========== Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 11:05:20 -0500 From: jgould@andover.edu (John Gould) Subject: Re: The Quiet Woman Inn Stephanie, There WAS a "Quiet Woman Inn," and the concept is not all that far removed from today. In the 1970's there was a famous restaurant in Waterville, Maine, called "The Silent Woman," with a similar logo. You can see the image at http://www.andover.edu/english/hardymisc/misc2.html I recall seeing it reproduced in MS. magazine, with heavy irony, and not long afterwards, the name and sign came down. I believe the restaurant is still there, but under a less offensive title. John Gould ========== Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 20:07:02 +0100 From: Ray Girvan Subject: Re: The Quiet Woman Inn In the UK, it's a very uncommon name now, but I don't think Hardy was the source. A quick look at the UK telephone database finds three, all rural pubs: The Silent Woman in Cold Harbour, Wareham, Dorset (this is the one, originally called The Angel, mentioned in Return of the Native); The Quiet Woman in Halstock, Somerset; and The Quiet Woman in Earl Sterndale, Derbyshire. (There are also a few others called The Headless Woman, which I assume is the same motif). The formal explanation is usually that it's supposed to represent a martyred saint; but the informal one is the sexist interpretation (i.e. "being headless or dead is the only time a woman will stop talking"). I suspect it may have been a more common inn name in the 19th century. Many rural pubs have been renamed or closed with the last few decades, and I believe some have been renamed The Quiet Whistle. Ray Girvan -- ray.girvan@zetnet.co.uk +++ Technical Author +++ Topsham, Devon, UK http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rgirvan/ +++ The Apothecary's Drawer ========== From: "Tony Shaw" Subject: Re: The Quiet Woman Inn Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 21:07:01 +0100 Salut! Ê There were quite a number of pubs called the Quiet Woman. There still is one at Earl Sterndale in Derbyshire, and there are probably more elsewhere. Some, I'm afraid, used toÊshow the following verse: Ê 'Here is a woman who has lost her head She's quiet now  you see, she's dead'. Ê More interestingly, there is (was?) one at Halstock in Dorset which is thought to refer to St Juwardine. Ê (Information from A Dictionary of Pub Names by Leslie Dunkling and Gordon Wright.) Ê Tony Shaw ========== From: "Stéphanie Humbert" Subject: Merci! Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 11:08:12 GMT Just a quick note to say "merci" for helping me out with the Quiet Woman Inn, it was very helpful indeed!! Best wishes, Stéphanie Humbert. ==========