T H E N E W M I D D L E A G E S E L O Q U E N T V I R G I N S F R OM T H E C L A J OA N A R C t o o f By Maud Bur nett McIner ney THE NEW MIDDLE AGES BONNIE WHEELER,Series Editor The New Middle Agespresents transdisciplinary studies of medieval cultures.It includes both scholarly monographs and essay collections. PUBLISHED BY PALGRAVE: Women in the Medieval Islamic World: Crossing the Bridge:Comparative Essays Power,Patronage,and Piety on Medieval European and Heian Japanese edited by Gavin R.G.Hambly Women Writers edited by Barbara Stevenson and The Ethics of Nature in the Middle Ages: Cynthia Ho On Boccaccio’s Poetaphysics by Gregory B.Stone Engaging Words:The Culture of Reading in the Later Middle Ages Presence and Presentation: by Laurel Amtower Women in the Chinese Literati Tradition by Sherry J.Mou Robes and Honor:The Medieval World of Investiture The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: edited by Stewart Gordon Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France Representing Rape in Medieval and Early by Constant J.Mews Modern Literature edited by Elizabeth Robertson and Understanding Scholastic Thought with Foucault Christine M.Rose by Philipp W.Rosemann For Her Good Estate: Same Sex Love and Desire Among Women The Life of Elizabeth de Burgh in the Middle Ages by Frances A.Underhill edited by Francesca Canadé Sautman and Pamela Sheingorn Constructions of Widowhood and Virginity in the Middle Ages Listen Daughter:The Speculum virginum and edited by Cindy L.Carlson and the Formation of Religious Women in the Angela Jane Weisl Middle Ages edited by Constant J.Mews Motherhood and Mothering in Anglo-Saxon England Science,the Singular,and the Question of by Mary Dockray-Miller Theology by Richard A.Lee,Jr. Listening to Heloise: The Voice of a Twelfth-Century Woman Gender in Debate from the Early Middle Ages edited by Bonnie Wheeler to the Renaissance edited by Thelma S.Fenster and The Postcolonial Middle Ages Clare A.Lees edited by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen Malory’s Morte Darthur: Chaucer’s Pardoner and Gender Theory Remaking Arthurian Tradition by Robert S.Sturges by Catherine Batt The Vernacular Spirit:Essays on Medieval Eleanor of Aquitaine:Lord and Lady Religious Literature edited by Bonnie Wheeler and edited by Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski, John Carmi Parsons Duncan Robertson,and Nancy Warren Isabel La Católica,Queen of Castile Popular Piety and Art in the Late Middle Ages: edited by David A.Boruchoff Image Worship and Idolatry in England 1350–1500 Homoeroticism and Chivalry:Discourses by Kathleen Kamerick of Male Same-Sex Desire in the Fourteenth Century Absent Narratives,Manuscript Textuality,and by Richard Zeikowitz Literary Structure in Late Medieval England by Elizabeth Scala Portraits of Medieval Women: Creating Community with Food and Drink Family,Marriage,and Politics in in Merovingian Gaul England 1225–1350 by Bonnie Effros by Linda E.Mitchell Encountering Medieval Textiles and Dress Eloquent Virgins:From Thecla to edited by Désirée G.Koslin and Joan of Arc Janet Snyder by Maud Burnett McInerney ELOQUENT VIRGINS FROM THECLA TO JOAN OF ARC Maud Burnett McInerney Palgrave macmillan ELOQUENTVIRGINSFROMTHECLATOJOANOFARC © Maud Burnett McInerney,2003 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2003 978-0-312-22350-2 All rights reserved.No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published 2003 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue,New York,N.Y.10010 and Houndmills,Basingstoke,Hampshire,England RG21 6XS. Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St.Martin’s Press,LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States,United Kingdom and other countries.Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-62301-3 ISBN 978-1-137-06451-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-06451-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data McInerney,Maud Burnett. Eloquent virgins from Thecla to Joan of Arc/Maud Burnett McInerney. p.cm.—(New Middle Ages) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1.Virginity in literature.2.Literature,Medieval—History and criticism.3.Classical literature—History and criticism.I.Title.II.Series. PN682.V56M38 2003 809(cid:2).93353—dc21 2002032203 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd.,Chennai,India. First edition:September,2003 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Matri,sorori,filiae: Anne,Melissa,Lucy This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS List of Illustrations ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction Genuine Devotion,Imaginary Bodies 1 1. Strange Triangle:Tertullian,Perpetua,Thecla 15 2. Androgynous Virgins and the Threat of Rape in the Fourth Century 47 3. From the Sublime to the Ridiculous in the Works of Hrotsvitha 85 4. A Chorus ofVirgins:Hildegard’s Symphonia 111 5. Pelagius,Rupert,and the Problem of Male Virginity in Hrotsvitha and Hildegard 143 6. Catherine and Margaret:Vernacular Virgins and the Golden Legend 165 Epilogue Joan of Arc 195 Notes 213 Index 247 This page intentionally left blank LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Illustrations placed at the end of chapter 3 1. Le Mystère de Sainte-Reine 1999 performance. By permission of the Amicale du Mystère de Sainte-Reine,21150 Alise-Sainte-Reine,France. 2. Martyrdom of Thecla,from Mélanie van Viervliet de la Sainte Famille,Vierges Martyres de la Primitive Église (Paris:Casterman,1887). 3. Wolfgang Traut,illustration from Opera Hrosvite, illustris virginis et monialis germane,gente saxonico orte, nuper a Conrado Celte inventa [Impressum Norumbergae, 1501].By permission of Special Collections,University of Missouri-Columbia Libraries. 4. The Virtues,from Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias, ed.Adelgundis Führkotter and A.Carlevaris, Corpus christianorum:continuatio medievalis 43,2 vols. (Turnhout:Brepols,1978).Made from a hand-colored photo reproduction (1927–33) of the lost original. Courtesy of Brepols Publishing,Turnhout,Belgium. 5. Detail from the Saint Barbara Tryptich,attributed to the Master of the Saint Barbara Legend,ca.1465–75. Philadelphia Museum of Art:purchased with the W.P.Wilstach Fund,the George W.Elkins Fund,and funds from the proceeds of the sale of deaccessioned works of art. 6. Joan of Arc,by André Allar,Domrémy,France. Author’s photo.
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