Margery Kempe

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the author discusses and expands on the issues that Margery Kempe relayed in her autobiography "The Book of Margery Kempe". Margery Kempe was a wife and mother of fourteen children, who turned to representing Christ in the public sphere when her own personal businesses failed. The author discusses the prejudices that Margery talks about, being a woman in what is considered a mans world. The author points out that because of the way Margery's relationship with God is portrayed in the book, it makes Margery susceptible to criticisms that would not exist without her autobiography. The paper continues to discuss the attitudes and reactions that Margery felt in her lifetime. In conclusion, the author summarizes what he has tried to communicate; that Margery Kempe is an exemplary Christian, she is the fruition of total belief, an amalgamation of orthodox ideals, beliefs, and practices that at once testifies to her profound faith and her accessibility as a religious figure.

Outline:
An Introduction to Margery Kempe
Retaining Selfhood and the Universal Christ Figure in Margery Kempe
Breaking the Rules in The Book of Margery Kempe
Ineffability and Compassion Expressed through Tears in Margery's Autobiography

From the Paper:

"A wife and mother of fourteen, Margery breaks social norms through more obvious negotiations, most noticeably through her wearing of white clothing and her reclamation of maidenhood, the former a symptom of the latter and the latter corroborated by a contract her husband signs in front of church officials. The first of these uncommon achievements is compounded by Margery's ability to at once reject the fixed categories associated with these garments and secondly, to emphasize and exercise a divinely inspired authority to do so. Challenged by the Mayor of Leicester to reveal her purpose in wearing the garb restricted to virgins and those of extreme virtue, Margery speaks boldly and accusatorily, "Sir," she says, "you shall not know from my mouth why I go about in white clothes; you are not worthy to know it" (Book 153). Margery's refusal to acquiesce to his demands risks her freedom (because he can lawfully imprison her) and it rebukes him in a manner that would shame him in front of his people. Despite her personal risks, Margery stays true to her imatatio Christo and she speaks with authority and boldness. Even though Margery wears white clothes and reclaims her virginity, acts that are singular to her and by no means universal, she is following Christ's example and actively seeking purity, which are definitely universal characteristics of Christians."

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