The tragical History of George Barnwell
Woodcut of Sarah Millwood in Youth's warning piece, or, The tragical history of George Barnwell: who was undone by a strumpetIn a similar way to the tale of Sleeping beauty, the tragic fate of George Barnwell addresses the male fear of female sexual liberation.
The tale is directed more towards a male audience, as it portrays the potential downfall that can occur when a man is tempted by a promiscuous woman. Barnwell, ‘tall and handsome, of a modest, genteel, manly deportment’ is a man of wealthy origins. However, upon his meeting with Sarah Millwood, he becomes ‘irrecoverably lost’ in her seduction and is easily manipulated by her to commit theft and murder, which results in both Barnwell and Millwood’s sentence to death. In the story, tellingly, there is another maiden, Maria, a ‘beautiful and virtuous’ woman who loves Barnwell and who hopes to save him. Nonetheless, Barnwell is so blinded by his lust for Sarah that he turns away from Maria, which inevitably leads him down his tragic path. At the end of the piece, George’s final speech to young men teaches them to:
take care of the wiles of lewd women; but in a more particular manner he desired them to leave all deceits for the time come in relation to women; for it was their [the women’s] own falsehood in debauching them, on a promise of marriage and then deserting them that made them give themselves up to every kind of wickedness, and do their utmost ruin to all men who were within their own power.
Barnwell’s speech before his execution emphasises his conviction that Sarah’s sexual seduction was the cause of his death. His tale reminds young men of the dangers of female temptation and the importance of upholding societal norms. Both tales serve as a reminder of the virgin-whore dichotomy and its prevalence in 18th century England, where the virgin is represented as the ideal woman, who stands as a model of domestic righteousness and is subjected to the hands of the oppressive male figure. The ‘whore’ is represented as a sexually transgressive figure who uses her sexuality as a tool against men. This further instils and reinforces stereotypes that continue to impact perceptions of female sexuality today.
In this exhibition
- Introduction
- Women and 18th century print
- Female representations in chapbooks
- Long Meg of Westminster
- The Cambridge jests or Wit’s recreation
- The sleeping beauty in the wood
- The tragical History of George Barnwell
- Mother Bunch
- Further contexts
- Select bibliography