Symbolic wounds; puberty rites and the envious male

In planning and drafting this book, in collecting and discussing the anthropological data, and in many other ways I was greatly helped by Ruth Marquis. By the time the manuscript was completed other interests claimed her and Kathleen Ray stepped in to edit the text for initial publication. For that arduous task I owe her much thanks. When this new edition was planned, it offered a welcome opportunity to eliminate some of the shortcomings I had grown aware of in the intervening years, to make additions that I hoped would clarify my thesis, and to correct errors that friends and reviewers had brought to my attention. Revision also afforded a second chance to make the book a more readable one. It was fortunate for me that Mrs. Marquis was again able to help me with the new edition. Thanks to her, it was brought closer to our original plans, and enriched by what we had both learned in the meantime. A note of thanks to her here is only an inadequate expression of my gratitude. The observations on children living at the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School of the University of Chicago, which first aroused my interest in initiation rites, were made by several staff members, to all of whom I wish to express my appreciation. Because I went beyond the field of my specialization and competence in this book, the advice and criticism of friends and specialists were much needed and valuable. I particularly wish to acknowledge the many helpful suggestions I received on the initial manuscript from Paul Bergmann, William Caudill, Fred Eggan, Robert Fliess, Maxwell Gitelson, Jules Henry, Morris Janowitz, Gardner Murphy, David Rapaport, Fritz Redl, Jack Seeley, Walter Weisskopf, and Fred Wyatt. They were responsible for none of the book's shortcomings (some of which they pointed out to me), and contributed a great deal to whatever merits it may have. Contents Page Preface 9 An Ancient Riddle 1 5 Reopening the Case 24 Challenge to Theory 37 The Blinders of Narcissism 59 Fertility, the Basic Rite 82 Ritual Surgery 90 The Men-Women 109 The Secret of Men 122 Girls' Rites 133 The Biological Antithesis 147 Appendix Infant Circumcision 152 Australian Rites 161 References 176 Index