Margery Kempe and translations of the flesh
Book Description
This groundbreaking feminist study examines the remarkable spiritual journey of Margery Kempe, a fifteenth-century mystic whose unconventional practices challenged the religious and social boundaries of her time. Scholar Karma Lochrie presents a fresh perspective on this extraordinary woman who refused to be silenced by the cultural constraints designed to exclude her.
Drawing from medieval theological concepts, Lochrie explores how women were uniquely associated with "the flesh" - that disruptive force Augustine believed fractured both body and soul after humanity's fall. Within this framework, she reveals how Kempe deliberately exploited these gendered assumptions through her controversial writing practices, her startling laughter, and her intense weeping expressions of religious devotion.
This comprehensive analysis challenges long-held scholarly assumptions about Kempe's literacy, her role in creating her own book, and her understanding of mystical traditions. Rather than viewing Kempe as existing on the margins of medieval spirituality, Lochrie positions her as a central figure who actively responded to and transcended the exclusions of her era.
For contemporary readers exploring themes of spiritual authenticity, gender dynamics in religious experience, and the courage to express one's truth despite social opposition, this study offers profound insights into how one woman transformed perceived limitations into sources of spiritual power and literary innovation.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 253 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Flesh (Theology) in literature
- ✓ Explore Christian women
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore Kempe, margery, approximately 1373-
- ✓ Explore Religious life
- ✓ Explore mystical experiences
- ✓ Explore Women and literature
- ✓ Explore Christian literature, English (Middle)
