Mary Magdalene and the drama of saints
theater, gender, and religion in late medieval England
Theresa Coletti
342 pages | ~10 hrs
Mary Magdalene and the drama of saints
theater, gender, and religion in late medieval England
By Theresa Coletti
In the spiritual landscape of late medieval England, few figures sparked as much fascination and controversy as Mary Magdalene. This scholarly exploration delves into how one woman's complex legacy shaped religious understanding and spiritual authority during a pivotal period in Christian history.
Theresa Coletti examines the multifaceted portrayal of Mary Magdalene as both sinner and saint, a figure who embodied the tension between earthly desires and divine devotion. Through careful analysis of fifteenth-century East Anglian texts, including dramatic works, mystical writings, and religious legends, she reveals how medieval communities grappled with questions that remain relevant today: What constitutes authentic spiritual authority? How do individual religious experiences relate to institutional teachings? What role do women play in spiritual transformation and salvation?
The book centers on the Digby play Mary Magdalene while drawing connections to influential works like The Book of Margery Kempe and The Revelations of Julian of Norwich. Coletti demonstrates how these texts used Mary Magdalene's story to explore the dynamic relationship between masculine and feminine spiritual power, authorized and personal revelation, and institutional versus individual religious expression.
For contemporary readers interested in spiritual development, this work offers valuable insights into how sacred stories evolve and how they continue to mediate our understanding of divine encounter, personal transformation, and the complex interplay between human desire and spiritual calling.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore Cristianismo (história)
- ✓ Explore Literatura inglesa (história e crítica)
- ✓ Explore English drama
- ✓ Explore Idade média
- ✓ Explore Mary magdalene, saint, in literature
- ✓ Explore Women in literature
- ✓ Explore Digby plays
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2004
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania Press
- ISBN-10
- 0812238001
- Pages
- 342
- Language
- EN
