MOM 2006 journal for pdf.pmd - University of Michigan-Flint

virtuous women. Christine will ask questions and their responses will help her get a clear picture
of women. She asks Lady Reason, alluding to a latin proverb which states “God made women to
speak, weep and sew” (27) to clarify if it was true. Upon discussion, Christine finds that God has
given this boon to women to spread his good words. Lady Reason gives examples of two such
women who with their power of speech, have accomplished miraculous feats. The first example
she gives is that of Mary Magdalene to whom Jesus first appeared to spread the word of his
resurrection to other apostles on the day of Easter. He did not choose a man but “desired that a
woman carry such lofty and worthy news” (28).
The second example is of a Canaan woman “who was so great a talker” (29) she confronted
Jesus with the request to heal her daughter. Jesus did not get annoyed but “took pleasure in the
many words pouring from the mouth of this woman ever perseverant in her prayer” (29) so that
he healed her daughter. With her power of speech, this Canaan woman has given life to her
daughter. Thus, Christine de Pizan makes the readers understand that even though women are
physically weak, they have this unique power of speech and that “God has truly placed language
in women’s mouths so that he might be thereby served. They should not be blamed for that from
which so much good and so little evil, for one rarely observes that great harm comes from their
language” (30).
For centuries, women have suffered atrocities at the hands of men. This situation has not
changed even today. Women are trying to surpass men in all possible ways. One might think that
men and women are equal in developed countries. This is a utopian idea and never can a man and
woman be regarded as equals. One way or the other, men will see to it this never happens.
Laurence Enjolras speaks of modern women saying “in their approach or rather appropriation of
women, men have a subjective and traditional view of women making them objects of their
desire and enclosing them within the veil of certain mystery, giving them predetermined
sentiments according to social practices they consider valid”(32) (translation mine) . Today our
world promises a better future for women. It still remains to be seen if the future generation will
implement equality among men and women and give them the respect they have always deserved.
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