RDP Thursday – CORPULENT
L. corpulentus, fr. corpus,: cf. F. corpulent,. See Corpse
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Corpulent is how we all feel after the holidays.
A person named Leigh Hunt was sent to prison for two years for calling the Prince Regent corpulent in print in 1812. He was, very, but I guess you weren’t allowed to say so.
No one wants to be called an uncomplimentary name, but it sure is a good thing in America right now that you probably won’t go to jail for doing so.
And I’m wondering who came up with the idea that fat and happy should be used together. I’ll bet it wasn’t a fat person.
There was a time, though, even in America, when corpulence was supposedly a sign of good health. Times were hard, and lots of people had a hard time finding enough food for themselves and their families. So if someone was chubby, it was considered a sign of health and wealth–something to be emulated.
Who was the painter who like to paint rather–umm–well-endowed women? They were considered quite beautiful. Too bad I didn’t live then. Rubens, right? Yes, Peter Paul Rubens. His name has become synonymous with round women—Rubenesque. Sounds a lot nicer than fat, doesn’t it?
Well, whatever word suits your fancy–corpulent, obese, chubby, chunky, heavy, blubbery or worse—be careful to whom you apply it. You could end up in prison. Maybe. Or not.
Just Writing! 
Interestingly, there are new studies that link being overweight (not obese) in your 70s with a longer lifespan. Other factors probably come into play, such as genetics etc.
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That’s a comfort, Paula! I come from a genetic pool of fairly long-lived folks who all battled the bulge. I do have to continue to work at it, though, to keep my diabetes under control.
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It is so complicated, isn’t it, Linda. Says one short, fat diabetic to another. And then if you have co-morbid health issues, the problem can escalate. I’ve also left a comment on Writelee’s post, because I thought his post was truly excellent. Cheers. Tracy.
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It’s so nice when someone truly understands 🙂
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Yes, it is.
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Great post – I had no idea that calling someone corpulent ever landed the name-caller in prison. I think too much energy is spent on shaming people for their body size and their looks. It’s hurtful and frankly, nobody’s business. So interesting, isn’t it, that there was a time when a rounder body was considered a good thing.
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We’ve gone way too far to the other extreme in America. I don’t know if other countries have done the same. I remember when a size 10, which I wore through high school and college, was considered “small.” Not any more. You need to be a 4 or 6, no more than that, if you want to fit the standards of beauty.
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Leigh Hunt was a friend of John Keats. At least he got a poem to show for it, even if he wasn’t terribly tactful
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THanks, Larry. Didn’t know that 🙂
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Really nice post. Please check out https://lifeandrelationshipsissues.wordpress.com/2019/01/02/mental-health-series-part2-body-shaming/
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