The Curious Case Of Mary Toft

Project Description

Amelia is currently working to recreate a bizarre true story from eighteenth century England where rumor and superstition clash with medical prowess fueling media frenzy and political disruption. This is the curious case of Mary Toft, or The Rabbit Breeder. She was thought to be a medical marvel, and had England fascinated in 1726. The king sent experts, and the case was widely publicized though text, print and stage. Medical science was in its infancy, and a mix of superstition, fable, and sexism prevailed. Women’s anatomy was a mystery, and male doctors had countless imaginative theories. One of these theories was that of “maternal impression”, or that when a child is born he or she takes on characteristics of the mother’s surroundings, dreams, and desires.