The Book of the City of Ladies

Pizan, Christine de

doi:10.2307/j.ctv19fvzzk.13

Cited by 4 publications

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“…Although seemingly feminine, a masculine thought or voice seems to emerge. De Pizan (1982) describes this situation in her book The Book of the City of Ladies just like, "As I was thinking this, a great unhappiness and sadness welled up in my heart, for I detested myself and the entire feminine sex, as though we were monstrosities in nature" (p. 5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On The Social and Political Status of Women from Palaeolithic Ages To 16th Century Europe

SARİ

Görmez

2022

Vankulu Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi

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Feminism aims to eliminate the inequalities and injustices that women are exposed to in all areas of society. These inequalities are the result of the progress of societies in history. From prehistoric times to modern times, both women and men have had certain duties in society. These duties between the sexes did not cause a classification in the early Palaeolithic ages. Because the main duty of both men and women is to look after the interests of the society in which they live. In these periods, when the commands of nature were taken as a basis, the first deteriorations between societies began in the neolithic ages. With industrialization, sedentary life began and the balances between societies and between sexes altered. Especially with the learning that the male has a say in reproduction, these deteriorations between the sexes developed in favour of the male over time. Although the change in the balances between the sexes works differently in every society in Europe, the result has been in favour of men. As the ages progressed, women were exposed to inequality and injustice in many social, political, public, legal, religious, etc. issues. Towards the Renaissance, families became small kingdoms and men became kings in the house. These male-dominated discriminations, which increased from the beginning to the end of the Renaissance, were the first periods when the concept of ‘feminism’ was mentioned. This study aims to discuss the social, political, religious and legal positions of women between Palaeolithic and 16th century Europe in general.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On The Social and Political Status of Women from Palaeolithic Ages To 16th Century Europe

SARİ

Görmez

2022

Vankulu Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi

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“…[10] Her book, The Book of the Cities of the Ladies, mainly discussed the two sexes from every perspective and rebutted the opinions against women. [7] In the book, she listed the women who had made great contributions to their countries and societies. For example, there was a description regarding women in her book: '…states that the female body is inherited flawed and defective in many of its functions.'…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, there was a description regarding women in her book: '…states that the female body is inherited flawed and defective in many of its functions.' [7].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…'Christine, who was born in Venice in 1364, discussed the role of women in society in the book.' [7] Set in the medieval period, the women at that time had few opportunities to work outside and gained a position in the church because of sexual difference. As her novel described:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…"The Middle Ages inherited a tradition of anti-feminism from two different sources: Judaeo-Christian theology and the medical science of classical antiquity" [7] According to the paragraphed cited, it is clear that religion plays a huge part in shaping medieval culture and creating misogynists. In reality, many churches were built in the Middle Ages because they were used as an intermediate institution for men prayers [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Feminist Philosophy in Medieval Literature--- The Case Study of Christines the Book of the City of the Ladies

Lyu¹

2023

LNEP

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This research is designed to make womens voice heard and achieve gender equality. Studying medieval women writings is worthy investigating because it can not only show how medieval men view about the other sex but also appeal for womens rights as much as possible. Besides, gender equality is an important problem that affects every single woman in the world. Therefore, gender studies also need researching. As far as feminist philosophy itself is concerned, the theories of Greek and medieval philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato, and St. Thomas Aquinas, will be used for analysing. Finally, there will be a conclusion that concludes all the discussions in this essay.

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The Female Body Politic: Enacting the Architecture of The Book of the City of Ladies

Haralambidou¹

2020

Architecture and Culture

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The female sex has been left for a long time now, like an orchard without a wall, and bereft of a champion to take up arms in order to protect it. … For this reason, we three ladies whom you see before you have been moved by pity to tell you that you are to construct a building in the shape of a walled city, sturdy and impregnable. … You alone of all women have been granted the honour of building the City of Ladies. In order to lay the foundations, you shall draw fresh water from us three as from a clear spring. We will bring you building materials which will be stronger and more durable, than solid, uncemented marble. Your city will be unparalleled in splendor and will last for all eternity. 1 With these words the allegorical female figure, Reason compels Italian/French medieval author Christine de Pizan to construct a walled city in order to protect the female sex from misogyny. De Pizan describes this fictional encounter between herself, 'Christine', Reason and another two allegorical figures, the virtues of Rectitude and Justice, in her celebrated text The Book of the City of Ladies, 1404-05. 2Correlating the act of writing a book to defend women, with the construction of an imaginary defensive city, The Book of the City of Ladies, has been seen as a proto-feminist manifesto. 3 Although widely studied in terms of its literary significance, I am interested in the under-researched architectural and urban allegory depicted in the text and the accompanying illuminations (miniature illustrations), which imagine a Utopia inhabited solely by women and constructed for them by a woman (Christine herself). 4 My recent practice/drawing-led research focuses on this text, but here, I will present this in conjunction to my study of a second book, de Pizan's The Book of the Body Politic, 1404-07, where she attempts to describe what society looked, or should look like: the underlying structure of medieval collective life. 56 I will start with an introduction of de Pizan, followed by a brief description of The Book of the Body Politic before getting into more detail about The Book of the City of Ladies and finally presenting my design-led research entitled "City of Ladies". 7 I refer to 'de Pizan', the author, and to, 'Christine', to her depiction of herself in her text. 8 Christine de PizanChristine de Pizan was born in Venice in 1364 and she moved to Paris as a young child when her father was invited to join the court of King Charles V as a royal astrologer, physician and secretary. She was married at the age 14, happily, to a notary and royal secretary, and had three children, before disaster struck. Her father's death in 1387 was swiftly followed by the death of her husband in 1389 from the plague, changing dramatically her fortune and leading a widowed de Pizan to take up writing professionally in order to support her family at the age of 25. 9 Her talents had been devoted predominantly to the composition of

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The Book of the City of Ladies

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

On The Social and Political Status of Women from Palaeolithic Ages To 16th Century Europe

On The Social and Political Status of Women from Palaeolithic Ages To 16th Century Europe

The Feminist Philosophy in Medieval Literature--- The Case Study of Christines the Book of the City of the Ladies

The Female Body Politic: Enacting the Architecture of The Book of the City of Ladies

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