The World of Courtesans c5.22

c5.22

Whether she evoked pity or whether she was condemned, the courtesan flourished and no stigma seems to have been attached to the profession. The flourishing conditions of courtesans cannot be ascribed to the unhappy domestic lives of householders but to the growth of luxury due to the accumulation of capital. There was a decided preference for physical charms, for a luxurious way of living, unfettered by the annoying restrictions of life at home and above all there was admiration for accomplishment in the various arts (arts which busy housewives were hardly expected to acquire). We hear: