Great Works of Literature I, Spring 2020 – Online – Two

Position of wife in Pizan’s “Book of the City of Ladies”

 The image of the wife described by Pizan in “Book of the City of Ladies” and the virtues possessed by these women are precisely the social positioning and requirements of women as wives at that time. In terms of family responsibilities, wife was mainly responsible for housework, which also represented the general form of family division of labor at that time. With regard to the relationship between husband and wife, the wife is still in a dependent position in the marriage and family, and the wife must be subordinate to her husband. In terms of family economic relations, the wife is completely dependent on her husband. After marriage, the wife is forbidden to show her head outside, and has no opportunity to go out to work. Although there will be opportunities to help manage the husband ’s territory and become familiar with and grasp the financial situation of the family, it only occurs when the husband goes out to fight or do business outside, these powers will soon be deprived.

One thought on “Position of wife in Pizan’s “Book of the City of Ladies””

  1. Your idea is especially made clear when she was talking to the three ladies about her issues with society and women not having the same rights. The divine ladies tell her that women know less than men mainly because women are less exposed to the variety of experiences like men. One example that supports it is like you said the women would stay in the house more often and take care of the household needs. 

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