WOMAN, ART, AND THOUGHT IN THE MIDDLE AGES

IAP Sesions 2013

Session 3 The Philosopher: Marguerite Porete

Marguerite Porete (1250 c. 1310)

12th Century: early humanism , veritable renaissance
- Marguerite Doingt - Angela Foligno - Hadewijch of Antewerp

- Mechtild of Magdeburg
- Juliana of Norwich - Troubadours - Stories of King Arthur - Thomas Aquinas

Marguerite Porete (1250 c. 1310)

Beguine
- New religious groups
- 1216: verbal permission of the Pope for women to gather into religious groups

- Negative term - 13th century: reffered to people who lived their religious life outside the regular life of a convent. - Women who lived together: beguines; the solitary beguine was called mendicant, itinerant teacher or preacher.
- Activities: Itinerary preaching, living as mendicants, feeding the hungry; basically, they wanted to follow the main principles of Jesus

Marguerite Porete (1250 c. 1310)

The mirror of simple annihilated souls, who dwell only in will and desire of Love (Le mirouer des simples ames anienties et qui seulement demourent en vouloir et desir dAmour)
The map of a soul in solitude (Peter Dronke)

Is the narration in romance language (in Picard dialect, of which we have access to the medieval French version of a manuscript of 15th century) of a mystical experience (Blanca Gar)

The Mirror of Simple Souls

Divided in two parts: I. Chapters 1-122: Dialogue between different characters (Love, Reason, The Soul, Faith)

II. Chapters 123-139: Narration in First Person

The Mirror of Simple Souls

A prosecuted book, prohibited and publicly burnt with its

author
What did this book had that caused such a big

controversy and ended with the death of Marguerite? Why did not Marguerite apologize of her thought as she was requested in order to save her life?

The Mirror of Simple Souls

The Free Spirits heresy

Persecution to Beguines

Theologians and other clerks, You won't understand this book, -- However bright your wits -If you do not meet it humbly, And in this way, Love and Faith Make you surmount Reason, for They are the protectors of Reason's house (Lyrical Prologue)

The Mirror of Simple Souls

Genre: Specula Roots on Courtly Love:

Beloved, what do you wish from Me? I contain all things which were, and are, and shall be, I am filled by all things. Take from me all which pleases you: If you desire from me all things, I will not deny. Say, Beloved, what do you wish from me? I am Love, filled with the goodness of all things: What you will, we will. Beloved, tell us plainly your will.

The Mirror of Simple Souls

Once upon a time there was a maiden, a kings daughter, of great heart and gentleness, and of fine spirit too; she lived in a foreign land. It came to pass that she heard tell of the great courtliness and nobility of King Alexander, and at once in intent she loved him, because of the great renown of his noble excellence. Yet this maiden was so far from the great lord in whom she had spontaneously set her love, she could neither see him nor possess him. Because of this she was often disconsolate within herself, since no love save this contented her. And when she saw that this far-off love, which was so close to her, or inside her, was so far outside, she thought she would solace her unease by somehow imagining the looks of her friend, for whose sake she was so often rent in heart. Then she had an image painted, which portrayed the semblance of the king she loved, as close as she could get to portraying the way she loved him, in the affection of the love that held her; and by means of this image, together with her other practices (usages), she dreamt the king himself.

The Mirror of Simple Souls

How to achieve perfection:

There are seven stages of noble being, from which a creature receives being; so the Soul disposes herself to all the stages before she comes to perfect being. And we will tell you how before this book ends

The Mirror of Simple Souls

Double structure of the Book: there are the seven stages

and also a stair:

Three deaths: to sin, nature and the spirit Two falls: fall of virtues on Love and fall of Love on Nothingness.
Reason: Holy Church the Little Love: Holy Church the Great

The Mirror of Simple Souls

1. A Soul 2. who is saved by faith without works 3. who is only in love 4. who does nothing for God 5. who leaves nothing to do for God 6. to whom nothing can be taught 7. from whom nothing can be taken 8. nor given 9. and who possesses no will

The Mirror of Simple Souls

How Love names the the Soul by twelve names The very marvelous one. The Not Understood. Most Innocent of the Daughters of Jerusalem. She upon whom the Holy Church is founded. Illuminated by Understanding. Adorned by Love. Living by Praise. Annihilated in all things through Humility. At peace in divine being through divine will. She who wills nothing except the divine will. Filled and satisfied without any lack of divine goodness through the work of the Trinity. Her last name is: Oblivion, Forgotten.

The Mirror of Simple Souls

(The liberated soul) no longer seeks God through penitence, nor through any sacrament of Holy Church; not through thoughts, nor through words, nor through works; not through creature here below, nor through creature above; not through justice, nor through mercy, nor through glory of glory; not through divine understanding, nor through divine love, nor through divine praise. (The liberated soul) has nothing to sin with, for without a will no one can sin. Now she is kept from sin if she leaves her will there where it is planted, that is, in the One who has given it to her freely from His goodness. She is dissolved by annihilation into that prior existence where Love has received her.

The Mirror of Simple Souls

Virtues, I take leave of you for evermore: Ill have a freer heart for that more joyful, too. Your service is too unremitting - indeed I know. For a time I set my heart on you inseverably, you know that to you I was surrended totally; so I used to be your slave now I am free I suffered many a torment thus, bore many a pain: it is a marvel second to none that I escaped alive. Yet since it is so, I am unconcerned: I am severed from you, for which I thank the God on high the day is good to me I have quit your tyrannies; now I am in peace