“You give them a taste of their own medicine, then they tell everyone you poisoned them.”
In a time where the feminine power was to be subdued and submitted to a man, with no exception, not a singular step out of line or hair out of place, less she be subjected to abuse; the discussion on the use of poison to serve out justice, yet also being an empowering force in the “dark feminine” archetype.
Aqua Tofana (also known as “Manna di San Nicola,” which roughly translates to “substance of Saint Nicholas”) was first ever recorded being used by two women named Francesca la Sarda and Teofania di Adamo who were sentenced to death after being accused of poisoning their husbands. It’s unknown who was responsible for its creation, however, a woman named Giulia Tofana received the namesake rights, as it’s believed that she was the daughter of Teofania di Adamo. She would then go on to continue its manufacturing in Rome.
After her experience with an abusive husband, Giulia sought out to create something that can help women to defend themselves in similar situations or to rid of unwanted suitors. The only records of how to create Aqua Tofana are the ingredients needed, but not how they were mixed together. Despite this, Aqua Tofana was labeled to be a “colorless, scentless, and tasteless clear liquid” that was thought to be made up mostly of Arsenic, Lead, and Antimony. This, alongside the fact that it was disguised as a blemish cream, and makeup cosmetics for women in shops as a means to evade authorities.
It’s also recorded that the symptoms of Aqua Tofana are not immediate, like other methods of killing, but instead, it acts as a normal flu and gradually worsens each dosage consumed. The first dosage starts off as a cold, the second begins to act as a stomach bug- causing aches, vomiting, and diarrhea, as the third (sometimes fourth) dosage will end up killing the victim.
With this way of punishment accessible to enact revenge on abusive husbands, the act of poisoning when it comes to political power and justice has been a widely controversial topic- is it a justifiable way to punish those who deserve it? Is it simply a means for a person to have ‘deniability’ in causing the death of another person? How did poison become a significant symbolism in the idea of “feminine rage and empowerment?”
Historically, figures such as Socrates, Charles VI, Wolfgang Mozart, and many others either succumbed to poisoning, or were reported to have been poisoned. If you really think about it, it’s understandable as to why poisoning would be the preferred method to kill someone, especially someone so high in power or political/ cultural importance: It’s a method that allows for the slow, painful torment to fester in one's mind. To accept the fact that they will be dragged to Purgatory for the suffering of those around them.
Despite figures like Mozart and Socrates being essential players in the creation of art, history, philosophy, and music as we know it; we don’t take into account how many lives these figures [intentionally or unintentionally] ruined. In the case of Socrates- who was forced to commit suicide by poisoning- he was a man who knew explicitly that he was a widely hated political figure. Solely, he was hated for having ideals about the divine Gods that did not align with the people- in other words: he was accused of believing in a ‘new’ set of Gods instead of conforming to the Hellenistic religion (belief and worship of the Greek Gods.)
In the case of Mozart, he has ‘mysteriously’ fallen ill whilst composing his Clarinet Concerto (K. 622,) Requiem (K. 626,) and final performance of The Magic Flute (K. 620.) As his symptoms became worse, he declared to his wife multiple times that ‘I have been poisoned,’ where he experienced symptoms such as swelling, stomach pain, and vomiting. Though it is unknown the ‘who?” that may have been Mozart match with the Grim Reaper, some speculate it may have been his wife Constance, as there was a brief period of him before they married that they had “broken up” over Mozart’s jealousy of another man ‘measuring Constance’s calves.’
Though the history of poison is fickle and uncharted, the accounts that have been recorded for research purposes truly reveal a darker side of humanity- one who thrives in knowing the internal damnation their victims will suffer for the pain they’ve caused others- intentionally or unintentionally. In a fit of rage and jealousy, or done to serve justice. To embody the feminine struggle against a dominant male population, or to justify murder. It all boils down to one's own interpretation.
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