Consuming and Sinning, Giving is Good

It is very true that Frankford follows the "feed my sheep" ideal in the play. He offers his entire house and command to Wendoll and we are given countless other examples of the lavishness of that house and all that it includes. So on one hand Heywood has given us a character who indulges in consumer goods, but also shares them openly. This is only a man though, women have to play by different rules in the play. Anne, who it would seem comes from this level of life already, I would think, would be used to such a luxurious environment. However, once she is put in contact with Wendoll, who tempts her by his use of the goods entrusted to him, she meets her downfall.
The interesting part to me is the nature and description of her self castigation. Frankford did not physically harm Anne, he did not really financially, or (oeconomically), harm her either. He "killed her with kindness." So even though Anne was not harmed physically directly by the hand of Frankford her body is still the subject and recipient of a cruel punishment. After Anne shows her sin of indulgence, lust and desire she punishes herself by ceasing to eat. This is a message I have seen imposed on females which manifests itself in many ways. To me, it is almost like, in this play, a woman simply cannot get off the hook without physical harm to her body or starving herself. And in this play it is presented essentially as the natural reaction, which is weird when you think about it. What is natural about starving yourself to death? Punishment, to prove a point? It is worth thinking about.