I had always heretofore assumed that the tendency of eighteenth-century ladies to swoon was due to tight stays; now I rather thought it might be due to the idiocy of eighteenth-century men.
The quote reflects a humorous shift in perspective regarding the phenomenon of women fainting in the eighteenth century. Initially, the narrator attributes this behavior to the restrictive fashion of the time, particularly the tight corsets worn by ladies. However, upon further reflection, the narrator considers the possibility that the men's actions and societal norms might also play a crucial role in this phenomenon.
This insight hints at a deeper commentary on gender dynamics and the societal expectations that influenced women's behavior and health during that era. It suggests that rather than solely blaming women's fashion choices, one should also examine the cultural context that may have contributed to such dramatic displays of weakness or vulnerability.
