Catherine Des Roches Epistle To Her Mother

Catherine des Roches' "Epistle To Her Mother"

The "Epistle To Her Mother" by Catherine des Roches of Poitiers discusses the very close and dear relationship that exists between mother and daughter. In this letter, the daughter gives a very detailed and vibrant description of the closeness and respect that she shares with her mother. She also reveals her thankfulness to her mother for all that her mother has bestowed upon her. She does this by taking a vow of silence at the end of the letter, which will allow her mother to live a longer and fuller life. In the letter, she wrote, "Since he [the Samian] wishes to speak, I will be silent, Mother, after humbly beseeching Divine Mercy that it please Him lengthen and prosper your days

Catherine des Roches also refers to things such as the earth and nature. An example of this is when she says, "You quickened me as Prometheus, the earth which he himself formed" (Roches 253). In this letter, there is also a strong appeal to the senses with the use of words such as luminosity and illumines. Catherine des Roches wrote, "And just as the body in all its proportions, and the shadow in its width cannot be seen without light, so the brilliant luminosity of your mind illumines for us the narrow path where I pray" (Roches 253). According to The Oxford English Dictionary, luminosity means shedding light and illumines means to light up or to enlighten spiritually. These two words are very strong and appeal to the senses to a great degree. Her use of these words really shows us the depth to which she feels her mother brightens her life, her religious ways, and the path to her

Each of these words was used four times in this short letter. I felt that Catherine des Roches was trying to make a rarely made connection between these two words. I hypothesize that she was trying to say that her mother is like life. A mother is not only someone who gives you life but is also someone who shares in your life from a very early age. A good example of this is when she says, "Now, knowing that I hold from you not only this mortal life but yet the life of my life, I follow you everywhere as the shadow does the body" (Roches 253). I felt that Catherine des Roches was trying to say that we owe our mothers our life because they have given us not only our life but have also dedicated their lives to us. In this letter, it also seems as though Catherine des Roches feels that her mother has given meaning to her life and therefore feels that she owes her mother a great deal and is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes, even her life, for her