Pubertal Process and Green-Sickness in Renaissance Drama: A Form Fruste of Anorexia Nervosa?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between puberty and the onset of green-sickness in early modern popular culture with findings on puberty and the onset of anorexia nervosa. Method: Four plays from the late 16th and early 17th centuries dealing with 14–15-year-old girls were analysed for information on puberty and for precipitating factors for the onset of green-sickness. These were then contrasted with the literature on anorexia nervosa where puberty has been proposed as a potential risk factor for the development of the disorder. Results: These four plays endorse a common understanding in early modern popular culture that puberty presents a major developmental challenge for young women. Four common precipitating factors for the development of green-sickness were identified: socio-economic status; age at onset; nutrition and sexual development. These have a striking resemblance to our current understanding of the development of anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Conclusion: Green-sickness shares certain similarities with anorexia nervosa. It is a post menarcheal condition arising out of the body's ripeness for reproduction at around the age of 14. Affluence and improved nutrition were recognized as contributory factors. The development of both green-sickness and anorexia nervosa appear to share a common theme in the context of puberty.