In the second section of Pizan, The Book of the Three Virtues, there is discussion over role women play in society and how this role relates with their relationship to God. Pizan illustrates that women should fill the roles of workers—they are not to be idle. This activity should be to serve God and directs women on the path to heaven.
To start out the Book of Three Virtues, we are shown that to be idle is bad in the eyes of God. We see the Virtues chiding Christine for her laziness: Christine says, “I remained idle, seeking some repose, since I was worn out from having accomplished so much work” (157). The Virtues then appear before Christine and say, “Will you now listen willingly to the lessons of Laziness” (157). They chide her, for though she has done a lot of work, they are saying that she should never be lazy. They tell her to, “no longer crouch in the ash heap of idleness” (157). The Virtues are the daughters of God. They do not like laziness and make sure to let this be known to Christine. This is also a way for God to convey to Christine and others that idleness is bad through the Virtues. Now that we see that idleness is bad, we can look at what women are supposed to do.
Women are supposed to be active for God. The Virtues express that “The Scriptures speak of two paths that lead to Heaven which you cannot enter without following them: one is called the contemplative life, the other the active life” (160). One of the ways to enter Heaven is by living an active life. This is important as the contemplative way is difficult to achieve so most women must reach heaven through the active life. The active life means that a person would “be so charitable that, if she could, she would serve everyone for the love of God” (160). A woman should dedicate her life to action which demonstrates her love of God. The right thing for a good woman to do is leave behind laziness and dedicate herself to charity work and service.
We see that in Pizan’s Book of Three Virtues, women are supposed supposed to fill the role of workers. They are to dedicate themselves to action and leave idleness behind. This is turn will put them on the path to Heaven and show women’s love of God through all of the things she does.
Marlee's points are interesting. Women must choose some sort of action in their devotion to God. They must either to completely focus on only God in the contemplative life or to do charitable works as they love everyone for God in the active life. The text points out that "... although the active life is of great excellence and necessary for the help and succor of many people, the contemplative life, which abandons the whole world and its occupation to devote itself entirely to HIm, is of great dignity and more perfect" (161). In either choice, they are both suitable in their devotion to God, but the contemplative life gets the best. The three ladies discuss these two paths with the good princess. She recognizes that she cannot fulfill the requirements of the contemplative lifestyle due to her responsibilities. Even though one path might not be for her, she can still choose the path of the active life. She eventually concludes and says that "since I realize that I do not have the strength to choose and follow one or the other of these paths, I will at least try to follow the middle way, as St. Paul advises, and I will adopt from each way of life as much as I can" (163). The importance of this is that the woman must participate in some sort of lifestyle that is dedicated to God. It is all virtuous and pleasing to God; the woman must be active and dedicate her life to either completely God or to God's creations for God.
ReplyDeleteMarlee's post points out an interesting development in the City of Women, however I was intrigued by Liezel's comment. Women are told to live active lives in the name of God, but like Liezel points out, this does not necessarily mean physically active. I found that contemplation, which Pizan calls "more perfect" is in fact a much more active life because you are involving your mind in the action (161).
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