January 10, 2008

At left we see seventeenth-century sculptor Bernini's famous representation of The Ecstacy of St. Theresa, showing an angel about to drive an arrow into her heart. Set against a backdrop of golden rays descending from heaven, the angel has a beatific smile on its face, while Theresa swoons as she prepares to receive the shaft of divine love, burning into her body. You can read about this experience in her chapter 29, paragraphs 16-17 of our selection from her Autobiography.

King presents in sharp contrast the two faces of female monasticism: first, that it served as a prison for unwanted, surplus women, and second, that for many women it was a longed-for reprieve from the imprisonment of marriage and child-bearing. What I'd like to do for tomorrow is prepare a debate: one half of you will argue that the life of marriage and family is better, while the other half will argue for the superiority of religious life. Study the examples that King gives us: we see women who wanted to leave convents to become wives and mothers, as well as women who struggled to escape family demands and devote themselves to religious life. As you read the selection for tomorrow, prepare your arguments and responses to counter-arguments, and be ready to take either side. I'll assign the sides when we get to class!

Take the following into account:

• What are families' reasons for wanting to place daughters in convents? How well do their reasons serve the needs of the women themselves, or of the institutions in which they place them?
• What is your understanding of the ways in which women in convents spent their time? What opportunities did they have? What level of freedom did they have?
• What story does King have to tell us about the changes to female monasticism over the centuries from the early medieval period to the time we are studying? How does this story fit her thesis about the subjection of women?
• What potential for empowerment existed in convent life, in your opinion? Was this available to all women?
• What dangers might women encounter in the convent? What dangers might they encounter in family life? How do these circumstances compare?

Be prepared to cite passages from the text, and give specific examples of women's experiences, bad and good. Class will begin with about 10 minutes allotted to small group discussion, to allow each side to marshall its arguments. I will moderate according to the following format:

1. We will begin with those arguing in favor of married life over the life of a nun. I will call on several individuals to present their side's arguments while the other side takes notes.
2. Next, the opposing side will present its opening arguments while the other side takes notes.
3. Each side will have about 5 minutes to confer further.
4. The initial team will then present rebuttals to the opposing side; I will call on new people to present these arguments.
5. The opposing side defending family life will present its arguments.
6. I will allow another 5 minutes for conference.
7. Each side will present its closing arguments.

No one person will be responsible for the entire debate, and I will recognize people who raise their hands and want to contribute if they believe there is more to be said. We will not be thoroughly disciplined about this, but attempt to have fun within a structure that gives you all a chance to look at the subject from all possible angles.

Further questions:

• Who or what were the Beguines? What is the story King has to tell about their fate? What women were attracted to this movement and why?
• What is your response to the accounts in King and Wiesner of holy women? Are there things about them that are disturbing, for example? What is the potential, and what are the limitations, of such a path for female empowerment?
• In looking at Wiesner's account of the Reformation, revisit the question of the effect that this movement had on the empowerment of women.
• What roles did women play in the Catheolic counter-reformation? How did these roles vary from one country to another?

St. Theresa:

• How does Theresa reveal the ambiguity of her position as a woman publicizing an account of her spiritual life? Find passages in which she refers to her gender.
• What is your response to the description of her experiences, and to the sculpture? Are there aspects of either that are disturbing?
• Why does her confessor advise her to treat a certain vision with contempt? What is the result for her of this advice?
• What according to Theresa is the relationship between supernatural experience and the faculties of the soul--the imagination, the will, and the understanding? This is hard, so don't get bogged down, but pay attention to these terms when they come up.

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 9, 2008

Disclaimer