Abstract In this paper, the author discusses and expands on the issues that MargeryKempe relayed in her autobiography "The Book of MargeryKempe". MargeryKempe 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 MargeryKempe 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 MargeryKempe Retaining Selfhood and the Universal Christ Figure in MargeryKempe Breaking the Rules in The Book of MargeryKempe 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."
Abstract This paper discusses sex and sensuality in "The Book of MargeryKempe" by MargeryKempe. The paper describes how Kempe used her five senses to portray her spiritual faith, and by doing so, permits the reader to understand the transcendent quality of her relationship - a woman's relationship - with God. The paper also describes the imagery that Kempe uses and how she expressed her faith.
From the Paper "Kempe created an alternative path for other women to follow. Instead of being the subservient wife and mother, she proved that a woman could be strong, outspoken, and independent. Although few people of the medieval world thought it was socially acceptable for women to take on nontraditional roles, Kempe's autobiographical text was only one of the many ways she strayed from the conventional path. By describing her faith as a sensual experience, Kempe created a new way, for women in particular, to reach not just enlightenment but empowerment through worshipping God. If Margery Kempe were alive today, she would be considered eccentric but because of her creativity, the book would probably still be a bestseller."
Abstract This paper examines the book "The Book of MargeryKempe", thought to be the very first autobiography ever written in English by MargeryKempe who lived 1373-1438. She was a religious enthusiast who traveled abroad as a pilgrim and as a writer her work has rich details of the everyday life of her time. This paper reviews the book revealing the character of religious zealot who may have experienced madness in the context of the period of history in which she lived. .
From the Paper "The Introduction of The Book of Margery Kempe indicates that it was written during the 1430s. "Its protagonist, who represents herself as its ultimate author, was not simply a woman but a woman thoroughly rooted in the world. She evinces the manners and the tastes neither of the court nor of the nunnery, but the piety, the culture, the profit-oriented values, and the status-consciousness of a late medieval town. Kempe examines the fundamental conflicts and tensions of that world by describing her gradual and voluntary movement away from worldly prestige. Margery's disengagement from conventional female roles and duties ? and consequently her daring rejection of the values of her fellow townspersons ? is a response to her growing commitment to her spiritual vocation."
Abstract This paper reviews "The Book of MargeryKempe" by Lynn Staley: A dictated documentation that details Margery's spiritual and physical pilgrimage through the Holy Lands of the Christian faith. The paper gives a short account of the life of Margery, highlighting her start in religion and gives reasons why some might consider her a profound mystic. The author of this paper discusses the concept of pilgrimage and analyzes how Margery understood pilgrimage concluding that the book provides a deep insight into an unconventional approach to spirituality.
From the Paper "To be specific, Margery understands pilgrimage in several different ways. Firstly, she understands it to be a way which she can remove herself from everyday concerns and physically be with that which has occupied her mind for so long. Secondly, Margery understands pilgrimage to be a part of highly valued Christian mysticism of her era. Lastly, Margery understands pilgrimage to be a way in which she can physically follow in the footsteps of Christ. This all draws back to aforementioned idea of heightening one's religious spirituality."
Abstract This paper discusses the autobiography "Book of MargeryKempe". The paper examines the way the book was written, the themes in the book and how they compare to modern times and the character of MargeryKempe. The author also provides a brief comparison to Augustine's Confessions.
From the Paper "The Book of Margery Kempe takes us to a world that first seems very different from our own, and then oddly familiar ; and then very different once more. The book, which was dictated by the apparently illiterate Kempe to two clerks in the 1430s is often credited to be the first autobiography written in English. It presents us with the story of brewery owner, Christian mystic, and mother of 14 Margery Kempe."
Abstract This paper describes MargeryKempe's words as foreign and the meter of her prose as awkward but similar to Shakespeare in terms of familiarity. The paper discusses the book as a journey for self-realization, living as a vagabond in Medieval Europe and traveling to Jerusalem. The author believes that to understand MargeryKempe, the reader must understand the time and social chaos of medieval Europe.
From the Paper "Chapter 11 is a discussion between Mary, her "husband" and the Lord at the end of 3 years of fasting from sexual relations. Her husband thinks that she is a "no good wife" for her behavior, but Mary is convinced that this course has brought her closer to her God. Her prayer to end this period of fasting reveals the key to her strange behavior, and the plight of the people of her time."
Abstract This paper looks at MargeryKempe's book through a feminist lens, and describes her attempts to gain acceptance by subverting the very patriarchy whose acceptance she sought. The paper outlines the visions Kempe received from Christ, and her subsequent dependence on these visions and her need for spiritual validation.
From the Paper "Margery Kempe (1373?-1448?), medieval laywoman and visionary, completed a book near the end of her life (with the help of scribes) which detailed her life relating to visions she received from Christ starting at the age of twenty. Reading The Book of Margery Kempe from a feminist viewpoint can open up the text in a way which helps the reader understand Margery's struggles to be heard and to be accepted, as well as why she may have been so desperate to free her life of carnal pleasures. By looking at the Book in this manner, one realizes that Margery needed others, men in particular, to validate her. The Book scarcely mentions Margery's contact with other laywomen, and other holy women are mentioned primarily as comparisons with Margery designed to authenticate her actions. The paucity of women is due to their inability to further her appeals for acceptance by the church; only learned and influential men could do that. So, ironically, Margery needed the very patriarchy whose dominance she wished to be free from. Without the pleasures she once derived from living in the world, Margery needed Jesus to speak to her everyday, she needed the mystical marriage with the Godhead, and, most importantly, she needed for clerics and bishops to validate her spirituality. Even if Margery rejected the bodily life associated with her husband, she nonetheless needed men to establish her place in the world. Whether these men were her scribes, her confessors, or Christ himself, Margery relied on them to maintain her chaste life."
Abstract This paper examines "The Book of MargeryKempe" which looks at the life of this woman and late medieval English life. The author discusses the themes, characters, story and conflicts showing how she portrays the manners and the tastes neither of the court nor of the nunnery, but the piety, the culture, the profit-oriented values, and the status-consciousness of the late medieval town.
From the Paper "Margery's disengagement from conventional female roles and duties and consequently her daring rejection of the values of her fellow townspersons s a response to her growing commitment to her spiritual vocation. Her attempt to gain personal, financial, and spiritual autonomy is a tale of radical reversal that touches us on many different levels. Margery does what very few are able finally to do, and the fact that she does so as a woman enhances the force of her story."
Abstract This is a paper dealing with the English travels of MargeryKempe (c1373-1448), laywoman and visionary. It deals with the logistics of her travel, the reasoning behind it, and what types of individuals she sought out on her travels, and their reactions to her.
From the Paper "Margery Kempe (c1373-1448), laywoman and visionary, lived a life that included a marriage that produced fourteen children, conversations with God and Jesus through visions, standoffs against mayors and various men of the church all around England, and many journeys to popular pilgrimage sites on the Continent. Her colorful narrative is preserved in The Book of Margery Kempe, which she dictated to scribes before her death. To understand how and why Margery went about amazing and upsetting people throughout England, we must look closely at her travels to visit with archbishops, bishops, and priests across the country. In looking at her travels within England, we can understand what motivated Margery, how she enjoyed her "dalyawns" in the Lord with those who found her divinely inspired, and how her piety grew through her courage to face off against those who did not approve of her. We will see that through travel Margery developed a gift for extracting strong reactions, whether positive or negative, from others."
Abstract This paper examines the life of MargeryKempe, who lived in the 14th century, and is known for her extreme fits of crying and screaming when at prayer and for having written the first known autobiography in English. It looks at how she was born in Norfolk, England, in 1373, to an esteemed merchant and public official and how, in her 20s, she claimed to have visions to Jesus, Mary, and other saints. It explores her marriage, her beliefs, and the Church's reaction to her and her book.
From the Paper "Despite this popular rejection of Margery's lifestyle, she escaped the common penalty for heretics at the time ? burning at stake ? because of an incident in a pilgrimage in Canterbury in 1414 where Henry V was present. Margery and John were there too. Henry V was said to be a very religious man and king who vowed to eliminate the Lollards. During the pilgrimage, Margery had one of her usual delusional fits that drew huge disfavor from the crowd, which then believed that she was possessed of some evil spirit. She openly declared and denounced the sins of a monk in that large gathering."
Abstract This essay concerns two mystics whose visions varied. The writer discusses that because the Catholic Church was experiencing turmoil, many people were drawn to mysticism as a way to become closer with God. The writer notes that Kempe and Julian in their visions conveyed varying themes to listeners. The writer further points out that although their styles and backgrounds were much different, the goal of bringing people closer to God was always at the forefront. An examination of these two women in this article reveals their distinct styles in expressing the inexpressible.
From the Paper "Mysticism involves having an intuitive knowledge about God and spirituality, which is characterized by enhanced vitality, productivity, serenity and peace. This spiritual practice developed out of the need of the masses, during the Late Middle Ages, to form close relationships with God, as the corrupted Catholic Church had alienated many of its followers with hypocrisy that existed between the conflict in the religious dogma being disseminated through priests and other servants of the church and the reality of the comportment of these same servants."
Abstract When considering the presentation of Chaucer's "Wife of Bath" in his "Canterbury Tales", the intention of the author should be kept in mind. The paper shows that because Chaucer's character is illustrated in a humorous way, it can be assumed that historical accuracy was not the aim. MargeryKempe's autobiography, "The Book of MargeryKempe", is used in this paper to discuss the validity and accuracy of the portrayal of the Wife of Bath by Chaucer.
From the Paper "Thus, authority plays a dual role in the tale of the Wife of Bath. First, she is an authority on the subject of marriage, since she has been through it many times. Secondly, the Wife of Bath cites the woman as the proper authority in the marriage itself, if the marriage is to be a happy one. One could infer that her husbands didn?t last because they were trying to be the sole authority in each separate marriage, although the Wife of Bath does concede that each of them were worthy in their own way."
Abstract Julian of Norwich and MargeryKempe were both medieval mystics who had a profound impact on the image of Christian feminine divinity. One of the most interesting aspects of their religious philosophies and of their private communications with God, was the way in which both women portrayed and used motherhood in their perceptions and understandings of the divine.
Abstract The paper explores the tale of Julian of Norwich and MargeryKemp, referred to as Shakespeare's sister. It explores how Woolf in "A Room of One's Own" relates to the status of women and the barriers they faced due to the stereotypes of gender in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
From the Paper "Julian's beliefs about women during the Middle Ages are mixed. In her study of medieval gender constructions, Fragmentation and Redemption: Essays on Gender and the Human Body in Medieval Religion, Bynum concludes that medieval theory acknowledged the "permeability or interchangeability of the sexes," although "the male body is paradigmatic," and even Julian of Norwich, for whom Christ was Mother, still consistently referred to him with the male pronoun (220-22). On the other hand, Robertson suggests that the physicality of Julian's language presents the redemptive possibilities for femininity and emphasizes the sensuality of Christ. Thus it is the "feminized body of Christ" that "redeems the sensual" (156). Further, Robertson believes that Julian was a subtle strategist who sought to undo assumptions about women and to provide a different concept of femininity through contemplation of Christ's "feminine" attributes."
Abstract Recounts the life of a medieval woman who professed to having frequent conversations with God, the Virgin Mary and various Saints. This paper explores and discusses some of the factors responsible for Kempe's circumvention of standard expectations.
From the Paper "The Book of Margery Kempe, is a fascinating work that records the life of a self-proclaimed medieval prophet. Despite tremendous obstacles, such as her own illiteracy and widespread public animosity, her controversial autobiography has survived. Interpretations of this work cover a wide range, from believers in her mystic ability to those who would label her fanatical, psychotic, deluded and suffering from postpartum psychosis. Insane or not, Kempe remarkably managed to defy the rigid societal restrictions commonly placed on medieval women."
Tags: fanaticism, medieval, mysticism, prophet, religious, spiritual, women
