The Dark History Of Classic Nursery Rhymes

"Jack Sprat" concisely describes how a husband and wife with complementary digestive problems managed to eat together. Jack couldn't consume fat, and his wife couldn't eat "lean." But after combining their deficiencies, they managed to lick "the platter clean." That's rather heartwarming, even if the Sprats are probably malnourished and in need of a nutritionist. But depending on who you ask, there's much more to the story than triumph over biological obstacles.

According to The Secret History of Nursery Rhymes, the Sprats' inspirational dinner date might actually symbolize incendiary actions by King Charles I of England and his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Per this interpretation, Jack's inability to eat fat points to the fact that Parliament refused to fund a war Charles wanted to wage against Spain. His wife's lean-free diet, in turn, represents Henrietta's decision to levy illegal taxes in response to political friction. Ongoing strife led Charles to disband Parliament (i.e., "lick the platter clean").

Viewed through the above historical lens, Jack Sprat indirectly mentions tensions that plunged England into civil war. As the BBC explained, "Charles dissolved parliament three times between 1625 and 1629" and further courted controversy by hassling Catholics and puritans. Insurrection was inevitable. Unfortunately for Charles, he had played with too many political matches and couldn't extinguish the fire that ensued. After getting bested in two separate civil wars, the King Charles was charged with treason and put to death.

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