My Trotula Presentation

In Humanities, we did a project that I really enjoyed. We all got into groups and chose one famous women from the middle ages, and made a presentation about them. I got to be the leader of that group, and I think I did better as a leader. My group did Trotula. Trotula was a famous doctor in the middle ages, who specializes in midwifery and gynecology. I worked with Marlowe and Stella, and we decided to do a play. I was very proud of this project because I think that we found a way to make the play funny, but also teach the audience something. Here is the script for the play that Marlowe, Stella and I wrote:
Narrator: Trotula was a very famous doctor in the middle ages. She lived for approximately 40 years, from 1050-1090. She was born as a noble, where she was expected to be waited on, and try on gowns, but she wanted to do more.

(Trotula and her dad are sitting at the table)

Trotula’s Dad: Trotula, it’s time for you to go get fitted for your gown. Your appointment started 5 minutes ago.

Trotula: No! I was hoping to go take a tour of the University of Salerno. I want to be a doctor!

Trotula’s Dad: (Laughs) Oh Trotula. You were always such a jester.

Trotula: No I’m serious. I actually want to be a doctor.

Trotula’s Dad: Fine You may go do your little tour, but be back by supper.

Narrator: It was hard for Trotula to be a doctor, because people didn’t believe that Trotula would follow through with her dreams.

(Trotula is at the University of Salerno)

Trotula I’m so excited to take the tour of the University of Salerno! I wonder where the tour guide is?

(Trotula sees tour guide)

Trotula: Oh, I was looking for the-

Tour guide: Ma’am, your husband will be back in a few hours, if you want you can wait here.

Trotula: No, I’m here for the tour!

(Tour guide looks at list)

Tour guide: Oh! You’re Trotula? Come right this way.

Narrator: When Trotula got into the University of Salerno she took a lot of courses on Midwifery and Gynecology.

(Trotula is sitting in class surrounded by boys)

Teacher: Many Midwifes learned their professions from their own mothers with knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Frequently, a midwife attended as many as three hundred births each year.

Narrator: She also read a lot of books by famous physicians, such as Hippocrates.

(Trotula reading a book by Hippocrates for whole scene)

Hippocrates: Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity

Trotula: I could have thought of that!

Narrator: At the University of Salerno, Trotula met a man named John Platearius, who was also a doctor. She married him and had two kids named Matteo and John Junior. Usually, when women had kids, it held them back in their career, but for Trotula it did the opposite. Trotula kept practicing medicine and treating patients.

(Trotula is sitting in a chair helping a patient)

(The patient is coughing)

Trotula: You must use water to clean your hands, five times a day. John Junior, would you go get the soap please?

(John Junior goes and brings back a bar of soap and gives it to the patient)

Patient: Oh! I’ve never heard that before! Whose advice is it to wash your hands?

Trotula: It was my idea. Washing your hands takes the germs away, which keeps you healthy!

Patient: Um… Okay… I guess I’ll wash my hands five times a day? Thank you?

Narrator: When Trotula’s sons grew up, they too were interested in medicine and were proud of their parents. Trotula then wrote very useful books including The Compounding of Medicine and The Diseases of Women and Their Cure. These books were read by tons of people. Trotula inspired generations of women to become doctors.

(Inspired women is reading Trotula’s book for whole scene)

Trotula: “when you visit a patient you need to ask where they have a pain, you need to take their pulse, you need to touch their forehead to see whether there is a fever and you need to ask whether they have shivers. Look at the expression on their faces and see and feel whether the abdomen is treatable , whether there is ease in urination, and give to each patient great attention.”

Inspired women: Wow! Trotula’s a genius!

Narrator: Lots of women to come went to the University of Salerno, and were not discriminated against as women.

Inspired Women: Greetings! I’m here for the-

Tour guide: Oh! You’re here for the tour! Come right this way!

Narrator: Trotula died of an unknown cause, but her ideas and knowledge lives on!