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MEDIEVAL ERA AND GENDER

            Modern day historians usually depend on the descriptions of medieval era authors to understand the cultural, religious and intellectual setting of those days. In this work, the representations of cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period by Julian of Norwich and Christine de Pizan are compared. Also, a description of how a medieval lawyer would defend Joan of Arc is given.  

            Christine de Pizan clearly represents the cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period while Julian of Norwich offers no such representation. Medieval era was marred with grave gender inequality. A letter, addressed to Aleanor, Queen of England, and composed by Peter of Blois clearly depicts this inequality. Blois blatantly declares in the letter, “A woman who is not under the headship of the husband violates the condition of nature.” (Halsall, 1997). Christine de Pizan addresses this apparent gender inequality in her writings. For example, In the Letter to the God of Love (1399), Christine refutes the idea that women have vices such as filth which they were constantly inculpated to have. By doing so, she paints a clear picture of the cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period. Julian of Norwich, on the other hand, is an anchoress separated from the daily routines of life and fully committed to serving God. For most of her life, she lived in a cell where she dedicated her life to serving God. Her writings are thus filled with very many heavenly visions and few if any representations of the cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period. Thus, we can correctly conclude, Christine de Pizan clearly represents the cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period while Julian of Norwich offers no such representation.

            A medieval lawyer could defend Joan of arc by standing on an insanity defense. Medieval law dictated that a defendant could not, in any way, be held responsible for a previously committed crime if they could prove a lack of ability to comprehend the illegality of their action or a mental disorder that made it impossible for them to comply to the law. Therefore, rather than base the defense on Joan’s guilt or innocence, the lawyer could simply turn the tables and argue that Joan could not be held responsible for her criminal acts of talking to God, fighting for the king of France and dressing in men’s clothes. The medieval lawyer could draw on Joan’s testimony of hearing voices at a tender age of thirteen to base the argument. This could be a good demonstration of how her delusional disorder absolved her from taking responsibility for her heresy. Furthermore, Joan’s testimony was marred with other inconsistencies that depict the characteristics of a delusional person. For example, when asked about her age, she said that she did not know (MacLachlan, 2009). She claimed that when she came to Vaucouleurs she recognized Robert de Baudricourt, although she had never seen him before all by the help of her mysterious voice. She exhibited the arrogance and ignorance of one with delusional tendencies. For instance, when asked to take the oath to say the truth, Joan arrogantly answered that she had sworn the day before and that was enough. A medieval lawyer drawing on these scenes from Joan’s testimony would form a particularly strong defense in the trial. Hence, a medieval lawyer could defend Joan of arc by standing on an insanity defense.

             In conclusion, modern day historians usually depend on the descriptions of medieval era authors to understand the cultural, religious and intellectual setting of those days. Christine de Pizan clearly represents the cultural, religious, and intellectual discussions from the medieval period as evidenced by her staunch views against the misogyny of her age. Julian of Norwich offers no such representation as she was an anchoress, living in a cell, mostly detached from the daily routines of life and fully committed to serving God. Drawing on the multiple inconsistences in Joan’s testimony, a medieval lawyer could defend Joan of arc by standing on an insanity defense.