In the Middle Ages, satirical pilgrim markings were used as a way to show disapproval of the established order. Through the parody of reality and the mockery of hypocrisy and human behavior in general, these brands became a powerful tool to transmit subversive messages. A clear example of this is the image of the monkey doctor, which represents the popular opinion on doctors and their customs in the fifteenth century. The monkey's ability to imitate led to the belief that this animal was intentionally copying human actions to convince people that it was really one of them. As a result, the monkey became the image of the impostor in the Middle Ages, being associated with falsehood, hypocrisy and low worth.
In this context, the use of the monkey doctor as a satirical symbol not only demonstrated society's discontent with the medical profession of the time, but also reflected people's general perception of authority figures and their conduct. The fact that an animal was used to represent a doctor or any other important figure shows the lack of respect and trust towards these individuals. In this way, satirical pilgrimage marks were not only a form of entertainment, but also a powerful tool to challenge the status quo and criticize abuses of power in medieval society.
