Gaslit, shamed and swindled: the play about Eleanor Glanville, persecuted for her love of butterflies
A new play titled 'Butterfly' explores the life of 17th-century naturalist Eleanor Glanville, whose passion for butterflies was used by her husband to gaslight and dispossess her. The play draws parallels between historical patriarchal abuse and modern societal dynamics.
Why it matters
It connects historical gender-based persecution with contemporary discussions on domestic abuse and the marginalization of women's interests.
Pulse-quickener … a Glanville fritillary; writer Claire Jackson hunts for silver-spotted skippers. Composite: Alamy / Phillip Nangle View image in fullscreen Pulse-quickener … a Glanville fritillary; writer Claire Jackson hunts for silver-spotted skippers. Composite: Alamy / Phillip Nangle Stage Gaslit, shamed and swindled: the play about Eleanor Glanville, persecuted for her love of butterflies She had a passion for butterflies and would seek out rare ones, yet this was used against her by violent, money-grabbing husband. Now this pioneering naturalist’s story has been translated to today’s manosphere
The framing focuses on gender-based oppression and patriarchal structures, which is a common theme in progressive cultural criticism.
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