The Book of the City of Ladies begins with Christine’s criticism of the male authors’ works. Christine believes that women are often maliciously attacked by men. Many male authors use lies and vicious opinions to condemn women and intentionally make women inferior to men. Then Pizan shows readers the great achievements made by women in the past. Pizan also introduces the stories of some intelligent, courageous and virtuous women to readers. Pizan wants readers to know that women and men are equal. People should not easily believe the biased views of male authors against women.
2 thoughts on “How does Pizan respond to male authors’ depiction of women in her work?”
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Men, in this era but even now, would degrade women in literature but also in everyday society. Sadly, women did not have many rights until only the last few hundred years. Pizan writes about all the lies that men tell about women and she puts women on a pedestal.
Hi Feng! I agree with you “Pizan wants readers to know that women and men are equal.” Pizan claims that human supremacy and inferiority can only be established by an individual’s nature and principles, rather than gender difference. She uses literature effectively to highlight and delineate the social circumstances experienced by women in the Middle Age.