>create a character as a symbol for temptation
>name her “Cunny”
What did he mean by this?

>>24549529 (OP)
The scene between Kundry and Parsifal in act 2 is the greatest achievement of all Western music and drama. I am simply awed by it every time I watch or listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0evxHPpwRg

>>24549529 (OP)
Thomas Mann did the same thing and named her Madame Hotpussy, must be a German thing

>>24549529 (OP)
Great question — the evolution of the word “cunny” (and its root, “cunt”) under censorship is a textbook example of how taboo, social class, and moral movements shape language. Here's how it happened:


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1. Old English & Middle English: “Cunt” Was Just Anatomical

In Old and Middle English, “cunt” was a common anatomical term for the vulva — not obscene, just descriptive.

You’ll find it in medical texts, legal documents, and even place names like “Gropecunt Lane” (yes, that was a real street name in medieval England, referring to areas where prostitution occurred).
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2. Early Modern Period: Shift Toward Euphemism & Double Meaning

As we move into the 16th and 17th centuries, English becomes more influenced by Puritanism and courtly decorum.

Vulgar language starts to be looked down on in print, but continues in popular bawdy plays, poems, and songs.

Writers use “cunny” as a diminutive euphemism to soften the impact — allowing them to slip in sexual references without being censored outright.

> Example: Thomas Middleton’s plays or Restoration comedies used “cunny” with knowing winks to the audience.
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3. 18th–19th Century: Victorian Censorship Cracks Down

The Victorian era (1830s–1900) brings about strict moral reform, fueled by:

Evangelical Christianity,

The rise of “respectable” bourgeois values,

And state censorship laws (e.g., the Obscene Publications Act 1857 in Britain).


During this time:

“Cunt” becomes completely taboo — removed from dictionaries, legal texts, and all “respectable” literature.

Words like “cunny” vanish from mainstream use, surviving only in underground or folk traditions (like sailor songs, limericks, etc.)

New euphemisms like “privates,” “fanny,” “lady parts” become widespread.
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4. 20th Century Onward: Reclamation, Shock Value, and Irony

In the 20th century, especially post-1960s, taboo words start being reclaimed, used in:

Feminist theory (e.g., The Vagina Monologues, “Cunt: A Declaration of Independence”)

Shock comedy

Punk and subversive literature


“Cunny”, however, doesn’t get reclaimed in feminist or literary circles — instead, it becomes a niche word on the internet, used in:

Ironic trolling

Shock memes

Sometimes in creepy contexts, like lolicon or bait threads — making it a red flag in some online spaces.
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So, in summary:

Period Attitude Toward “Cunt” / “Cunny” Censorship Impact

Pre-1500s Anatomical / neutral Open use
1500s–1700s Bawdy / euphemistic Used in literature, hidden under humor
1800s Morally obscene Removed from formal speech; censored
1900s–Today Taboo or reclaimed Re-emerges in feminist, comic, and internet spaces
Today (online) Ironic, often disturbing Context-dependent — seen as edgy or