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Timeline for Women & Patriarchy in late medieval and early modern England. 1300: the femme sole becomes an option in the English courts 1348: The Black Death creates labor shortage that lasts for about 100 years 1380s: Chaucer writes “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
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Timeline for Women & Patriarchy in late medieval and early modern England 1300: the femme sole becomes an option in the English courts 1348: The Black Death creates labor shortage that lasts for about 100 years 1380s: Chaucer writes “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” 1390s: Julian of Norwich Writes Revelations of Divine Love 1438: Marjory Kempe completes her mystical autobiography 1445-1471: Margaret of Anjou leads the Lancastrian court and faction in Wars of the Roses 1553-1558: Mary Tudor rules England as Catholic monarch 1558-1603: Elizabeth I rules as Protestant monarch Early 1600s: Protestants recall the reign of “Good Queen Bess”
"Experience, though noon auctoritee Were in this world, were right ynogh to me To speke of wo that is in mariage; For, lordynges, sith I twelf yeer was of age, Thonked be God, that is eterne on lyve, Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve - For I so ofte have ywedded bee - And alle were worthy men in hir degree. But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is,
That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee, That by the same ensample, taughte he me, That I ne sholde wedded be but ones. Herkne eek, lo, which a sharpe word for the nones, Biside a welle Jhesus, God and Man, Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan
Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes, -- quod he, -- And that ilke man that now hath thee Is noght thyn housbonde, -- thus seyde he certeyn. What that he mente therby, I kan nat seyn; But that I axe, why that the fifthe man Was noon housbonde to the samaritan? How manye myghte she have in mariage? Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age
Upon this nombre diffinicioun. Men may devyne and glosen, up and doun, But wel I woot, expres, withoute lye, God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; That gentil text kan I wel understonde.
Discuss Wife of Bath’s Tale • Why does the knight go on a quest? • How would you describe his relationship with the old women? • How does the story portray the queen? • What kind of justice did the knight receive?
What is the point of this speech in the prologue of the Wife of Bath? • Experience is a more useful form of knowledge or authority than the opinions of Church men • Marriage is a form of partnership, and women are the senior partners • It is more important to love someone than to go to Church • Although Jesus never married, his wisdom about marriage was perceptive and deserves obedience
According to the Wife of Bath’s Tale,what do women really want? • A submissive husband • Sovereignty in marriage • A wealthy husband • No husband • A coequal partner in marriage
The Clerk’s Tale about Griselda is… • A sort of sick and twisted story about a prince who tests his wife’s obedience • A cheerful story about a woman who talks to animals • A crude and nasty story about a woman caught in a bar room brawl • A very short tale involving a Roman noblewoman, Virginia
To what degree was Chaucer a feminist? How did he characterize the Wife of Bath? Why did Walter’s people ask him to marry in the Clerk’s Tale?
Discuss Clerk’s Tale • What king of person was Walter before he married? • Did marriage change him? • In what sense was Chaucer mocking patriarchy in this story? • Was this story a form of satire? • What does the Epilogue have to say about this subject? • In what sense is the meaning of this story ambiguous?
Why have patriarchy and misogyny persisted for so long? What caused them to start? What kept them going? Why are their potential consequences?
Women used distaffs (often much larger than the ones pictured at left) to create thread from wool • Bridegooms often gave a distaff as a symbolic present to their wife around the time of marriage • The distaff was a symbol for women throughout Europe
Julian of Norwich, a mystic Christian writer, met with Margery Kempe, another mystic writer, in 1412 or 1413.Religion offered a path to prestige and influence for some women. "The church of SS Andrew and Mary - St Julian of Norwich - geograph.org.uk - 1547398" by Evelyn Simak. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_church_of_SS_Andrew_and_Mary_-_St_Julian_of_Norwich_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1547398.jpg#/media/File:The_church_of_SS_Andrew_and_Mary_-_St_Julian_of_Norwich_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1547398.jpg
Christine de Pizan(1363-1434) was the first professional female writer in Europe.
Relied on French support to remain in power Sought to unite France and Scotland Incited by John Knox, Protestants rebelled in 1559 Protestants with aid from Elizabeth proved stronger and concluded the Treaty of Edinburgh which established Protestantism in Scotland Mary Guise1515-60
Daughter of James V and mother of James VI, she was crowned at nine months old Cousin to Elizabeth and Mary Tudor Her mother was Mary Tudor, sister to Henry VIII Remained ardent Catholic throughout her life Was the apparent heir to Elizabeth from 1558-1587 Spent most of her adult life in confinement either in Scotland or England Mary Stuart
During her early years she was used as bait in alliances a concept that Elizabeth seems to have appreciated Became princess of Wales in 1525 Became Queen in 1553 and married Philip II in 1554 Her marriage was the basis for her loss of popular support Mary Tudor, aka Bloody Mary, 1516-58
Object of the affections of her stepfather, Thomas Seymour Young Elizabeth was extremely quick learner and exceptionally serious at a young age She became an exceptionally shrewd judge of people and situations Tutored by the renowned humanist, Roger Ascham: “no womanly weakness” Elizabeth c. 1546
Was 25 at her coronation Expectation for a short reign were rampant Protestant Queen of a mostly Catholic country “An ill advised woman” England’s recent losses on the Continent Elizabeth 1559
Suffered from severe small pox in 1562 Declared a heretic by the pope in 1570 (Bull of Regnans in Excelsis) Object of several assassination plots Relied heavily on informants and spies of Francis Walsingham Master of spectacle and display in the Renaissance tradition, her coronation alone cost £16,000 Elizabeth
1588 Gloriana
