Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich – Catholic Proto-feminists?
When thinking of great English writers over the centuries, the earliest female writers who come to mind often are Jane Austen or Emily Brontë. However, there are many extraordinary female writers who often are being overlooked.
While exploring testimonies of women’s creativity in a time, when participating at the artistic, creative and intellectual exchange of society was not commonly part of roles and expectations attributed to women, I came across two female writers that I found particularly interesting.
The aim of this essay is to introduce these two extraordinary medieval female writers, Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich, by briefly outlining their biographies and the main characteristics of their writing. Furthermore, commonalities and differences of these two female writers will be defined. Finally, it will be explained why these texts still have a relevance in a broader context today.
Beforehand, the key terms of this Essay shall be defined. The term gender is here being used as the distinction of sex and the constructed way of assigning meaning to people and behaviours due to their biological sex combined with this distinction. The most important authority to define gender related views in the here considered period is the catholic church. By devotion, religious devotion in the sense of worship, dedication and strong religious commitments is meant.
In order to understand why the two women presented in the following section are so remarkable, it is necessary to consider the position and education of women in mediaeval times.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Margery Kempe
3. Julian of Norwich
4. Comparison and Synthesis
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This essay aims to introduce two extraordinary medieval female writers, Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich, by examining their biographies, their unique literary contributions, and their enduring relevance. The core research focus lies in exploring how these women navigated the restrictive patriarchal structures of the Middle Ages to articulate their spiritual experiences and assert their voices within a male-dominated ecclesiastical culture.
- The biographical background and spiritual journeys of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich.
- The historical position, education, and limitations faced by women in medieval society.
- Comparative analysis of Kempe’s active, travel-based devotion versus Julian’s contemplative, intellectual theology.
- The concept of "feminisation of devotion" as a proto-feminist strategy to challenge male authority.
- The role of visions and divine revelation as protective mechanisms for female authorship.
Excerpt from the Book
Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich – Catholic Proto-feminists?
Julian of Norwich’s texts are altogether more intellectual, theorising and analytical than Margery Kemp’s texts which focus more on her own devotional pathway and struggles than on abstract interpretations. As both women had visions after recovering from illness, they can either be considered mystics. After their visions, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe both changed their lives in an extreme way in order to be able to dedicate themselves to their religious devotion. The fact that Julian of Norwich has chosen withdrawing from the world to experience an inner journey whereas Margery Kempe has decided to find spiritual fulfilment by traveling is reflected in the different motives and topics of their books. However, the most important unifying element though is, that they both feminised devotion, adding a new and an alternative reading of religious texts by emphasising the role of the female.
In order to comprehend why the biographies, texts and new religious approaches of Margaret Kempe and Julian and Norwich are relevant in a broader context, it is necessary to be aware of the predominant role of religion in society during the Middle Ages. The church was the ultimate authority in every aspect of life and hence the position and representation of women in religious doctrines must be considered to attribute meaning to women’s fates in this period. Keeping this in mind, Margery Kempe’s and Julian of Norwich’s aspirations to undertake “a feminisation of devotion”, as stated by Elizabeth Spearing, may be interpreted as an attempt to modify the prevalent image of the woman as an intellectually immature being by depriving this approach its ideological basis.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the essay, establishes key terminology such as gender and religious devotion, and outlines the historical context of female education in the Middle Ages.
2. Margery Kempe: This section details the life of Margery Kempe, her pilgrimages, her controversial religious expressions, and the eventual recording of her life experiences in her book.
3. Julian of Norwich: This chapter focuses on Julian’s life as an anchoress, her theological work "A Revelation of Love," and her complex, intellectual approach to divine visions.
4. Comparison and Synthesis: This part contrasts the two women's approaches—active versus contemplative—while highlighting their shared efforts to feminize religious devotion.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter evaluates the historical boldness of these women in challenging male-dominated theological interpretation and suggests their significance as Catholic proto-feminists.
Keywords
Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, Medieval Literature, Religious Devotion, Feminisation of Devotion, Proto-feminism, Mysticism, Anchoress, Pilgrimage, Church Authority, Theology, Female Authorship, Middle Ages, Visions, Spiritual Path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this essay?
The essay explores the lives and works of two medieval writers, Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich, examining their roles as early female authors within the constraints of the Catholic Church.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the restrictive position of women in medieval education and religion, the nature of mystical visions, the power of female agency, and the "feminisation of devotion."
What is the core research question?
The work investigates how these two women expressed their religious devotion and thoughts, and whether their writings can be interpreted as a form of early proto-feminism.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The essay employs a qualitative literary and historical analysis, comparing the biographical and textual evidence of the two writers against the societal background of the Middle Ages.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body contrasts Kempe’s outward, travel-oriented spiritual life with Julian’s internal, contemplative life, analyzing their texts as challenges to male authority.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The most important keywords include Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, mysticism, gender, feminisation of devotion, and medieval literature.
How did these women protect themselves from religious prosecution?
The author argues that by framing their unconventional thoughts and theological ideas as divinely inspired visions, they created a protective barrier against potential accusations of heresy.
What is the significance of the "Father-Mother" Trinity model mentioned?
This refers to Julian of Norwich’s unique theological interpretation, where she re-envisions the Trinity through a maternal lens, highlighting her intellectual and analytical depth.
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- Alexandra Pfisterer (Autor:in), 2019, Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. Catholic Proto-Feminists?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/508851
