The Book Of The City Of Ladies By Christine De Pizan

Christine De Pizan is one of the most neglected writers in literature. When Christine’s husband died when she was in her mid twenties she had to turn to something to start making living. Christine would take writing upon herself to start making money on her own. It is quoted that when it came to writing that she pursued it with remarkable courage and energy as well as ambition. Today Christine is very important in literature and applauded for her work she has done. Christine is known very well for her views of the status of women. Christine De Pizan is noted for her views on the Medieval European Society. In the book, The Book of the City of Ladies it shows how poorly women are treated in their society and how Christine De Pizan wanted equal

rights for society.
In Medieval European Society women were treated less than men. Christine shows us this in many ways very early on in her story. Christine mentions that men would attack women all the time.

Christine stated, “ They have attacked all women in general because the believe that women are made up of every abomination (17).” This quote means that men would attack these women because of something they assumed. When Christine said these men would beat them because they were made up of every hatred. Another thing that Christine De Pizan talked About in the story was rape of women. This is a thing that is still around today. It may not be talked about a lot or even as serious as it used to be. Christine mentions in her book, “ I am therefore troubled and grieved when men argue that many women want to be raped and that it does not bother them at all to be raped by men even when they verbally protest. It would be hard to believe that such great villainy is actually pleasant for them (160).” Christine De Pizan tries to talk about certain things in her book that deal with women and to it make clear to her audience. Christine De Pizan’s society saw wives to be viewed as property and not as an independent person. This is because men of that time only accepted a woman’s body, and many men believed they had the right and that they could use their wives’ bodies in any way they saw

necessary. In this time period that Christine De Pizan was in; rape was a not as shocking but more violent and very real for many women. Many women lacked access to any source of help that could help rape victims. Christine De Pizan’s work takes a very big step in allowing people to know of this very big problem going on in their society. It was often seen a lot that sexual violence was something women just had to go through in their society; and that men were always went around with aggressive sexual intentions. Such actions were allowed in their society as long as men were able to hold their positions of power. The man also had to make sure voices of women of the women completely silent so no one would be able to here. Many men that raped women made their actions known. Men in the the book also said that women wanted to be raped and that they enjoyed it very much. Many men also said in a way that some women were even asking to be raped. Christine De Pizan was just one of many women who spoke out about it. She also wanted to show how bad of a crime it actually was and wanted it stopped. Christine De Pizan wanted women to be more respected and due this she fought for equal rights for all.
Christine De Pizan wanted to fight for equal rights for all.

Christine De Pizan mentions in her book that a man or woman should not be at greater value over each other. Christine also says in her book that she can see the foolishness of a wise man because without a woman, man reigns with God. The quote that Christine De Pizan says, “ The man or the woman in whom resides greater virtue is the higher; neither the loftiness nor the lowliness of a person lies in the body according to the sex, but in the perfection of conduct and virtues. And surely he is happy who serves the Virgin, who is above all the angles (24).” Christine De Pizan had the intention of writing this book to defend and restore the values of women in their society. Christine’s major goal is not to forcefully make the importance of the women. Christine De Pizan wanted to argue for equality. Christine she wanted everyone in their society to have an equal opportunity like everyone else. Christine De Pizan also argued the fair and equal treatment of all people even if they were a male or female. Christine De Pizan forcefully says that a person’s sex is not a fair way to judge one’s character. Christine De Pizan says an individual’s morals and personal conduct are good enough. With Christine making this statement, the reasons point out the thinking Christine and people of the time, who makes issues and focuses on the non importance qualities that make up an individual’s personality. Later in Christine’s book,

Christine states that beauty is no way to judge of a woman’s inner beauty, that one can only judge inner beauty by that person’s personality. After looking at the evidence of the book, Christine wants readers to not just look at what’s or who people are on the outside, but Christine wants us to look further into people’s surface and to think about the way they could make their society that much better if women and other people were treated with respect.
After looking at Christine De Pizan’s book and what she had to say about the Medieval European society Pizan. We can now see how she got he message across. In the book, The Book of the City of Ladies it shows how poorly women are treated in their society and how Christine De Pizan wanted equal rights for society. Through the reading we found out that Christine is one of the most neglected writers in literature. Through ambition and hard work Christine would start a career as a writer. Christine De Pizan is noted for her views on the Medieval European Society. Today as we read the book, The Book of the City of Ladies, we can now see that Christine De Pizan main goal was to have women be accepted into society and not be treated poorly anymore. Whether that was for being raped or even beaten for no good reason. We also saw in her book how she fought for equal rights for all that women should be just as equal as men.