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Public fantasy and the logic of sacrifice in the Physician's Tale.(Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales')

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From: ANQ
Date: 20020622
Author:Uebel, Michael

Channel surfing recently turned up a rerun of Law & Order in which an American father protects his biracial daughter by murdering an uncle who is determined that the young girl be ritually circumcised. With the mother-in-law's blessing as well, an Egyptian doctor was to perform the surgical operation that the traditional African side of the family believed would preserve the girl's virginity and faithfulness thereafter and thereby protect the family's honor. Before the father stands trial, expert witnesses are called, including a Columbia University professor of African culture, ...