Martin Luther’s quote taken out of context
In the letter “Time for language to be free of gender connotations” (Oct 15), the writer quoted 16th-century reformer Martin Luther as having said: “God made Adam the lord of all creatures, but Eve spoiled it all.”
In the letter “Time for language to be free of gender connotations” (Oct 15), the writer quoted 16th-century reformer Martin Luther as having said: “God made Adam the lord of all creatures, but Eve spoiled it all.”
However, a book containing Luther’s quotations, Table Talk, gave this excerpt: “You persuade me of anything you will; you have the dominion. In the household, I concede to you the governance, saving only my right. For the rule of women never accomplished anything good.
“God made Adam the lord of all creatures so that he might rule all living things. But when Eve persuaded him that he was a lord above God, he thereby spoiled it all. We have that to thank you women for.”
He said this in the context of a complaint to his wife. Whether in jest or not, the domestic jibe was somehow recorded for all posterity.
The writer should see to his quotations and how he uses them to justify his arguments. Although Luther’s statement would be deemed sexist by today’s standards, it does not contain sexist semantics or gender-specific connotations.
Instead, Luther broke free of sexist semantics when he attributed “dominion” and “governance” to his wife, words reserved traditionally for men.