There is an almost comical moment in chapter 11 of The Book of Margery Kempe when her husband asks her “whether you [Margery] would allow my head to be cut off, or else allow me to make love with you again, as I did at one time?” When she replies, “Truly, I would rather see you being killed, than that we should turn back our uncleanness,” it seems he is justified in telling her “you are no good wife.”
This small scene evoked from me two responses to Margery’s devotion to God. The first, and more likely intended response was: wow, that’s an intense love of God. However, my second though was: Well, she might resent this guy who got her pregnant 14 times, and not that she’s seeking revenge, but seeing him go might not be a heartbreaker. Of course in the end, Margery cares for her husband preceding his death, thus to a certain extent proving a defense to both my second reaction, and her husband’s allegation that she is a no good wife.
The Book of Margery Kempe seems as much about self-expression as it is self-defense. The third person provides an interesting lens through which to view her spiritual autobiography. While it appears to be a revealing third person account and the reader is aware of emotional struggles etc. the view of a third person narrator gives a sense of remove from Margery that a first person account would not provide. Rather than seeing through Margery Kempe’s eyes, we are focused on Margery Kempe. While I would not argue that this third person account is objective, it does seem to assert authority by at least posing as more than her personal view of the world.
Megan, I liked this moment as well, but it made me think that, in a way, Margery was very lucky to have such a tolerant husband.
ReplyDeleteEven though he is made uncomfortable by her increasing devotion, he allows her to pursue what she sees as her path with a large measure of acceptance. He may not be 100% on board with marital chastity, but he allows her to negotiate for it. Considering the burden her absence no doubt placed one her household, the fact that he allows her to embark upon her pilgrimage is somewhat extraordinary.
Given the level of control that husbands had over wives at this time, his tolerance of her actions, which even we, as a modern audience, find shocking, his final request that she care for him in illness seems very reasonable.
"10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
ReplyDelete10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
Gospel of Matthew...
This is actually true in the case of Mr. Kempe. The quote does not say anything about man and wife, but one can imagine it not precisely far from the canonic text.
Of course the Church did not -and still does not -want to promote these revolutionary and anti family values of the lord... but they are still there in the canonic gospel..