📚Middle English Literature Unit 10 – Margery Kempe: 15th Century Mystic's Book

Who Was Margery Kempe?

• Margery Kempe was a Christian mystic and autobiographer born in Lynn, England around 1373
• Married John Kempe at age 20 and had 14 children
• Experienced spiritual visions and revelations after the birth of her first child
• Took a vow of chastity later in life with her husband's consent to focus on her spiritual journey
• Went on pilgrimages to holy sites such as Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela
  • These pilgrimages were unusual for a woman of her time and social status
• Dictated her life story and spiritual experiences to scribes, resulting in The Book of Margery Kempe
• Considered one of the earliest known autobiographies in the English language

Historical Context: 15th Century England

• The 15th century in England was marked by social, political, and religious upheaval
• The Hundred Years' War between England and France continued, impacting the economy and society
• The Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for the throne of England, began in 1455
• The Black Death, which first struck in the mid-14th century, continued to resurface, causing widespread death and social disruption
• The Church faced challenges from reformist movements such as the Lollards, who criticized clerical corruption and advocated for vernacular scripture
• The rise of literacy and the English language contributed to the development of vernacular literature
  • Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, written in Middle English, gained popularity
• Mysticism and visionary experiences were a significant aspect of medieval spirituality

The Book of Margery Kempe: Overview

• The Book of Margery Kempe is a unique autobiographical work dictated by Kempe and written down by scribes
• It chronicles Kempe's life, spiritual journey, and mystical experiences
• The book is divided into two parts:
  • Book I focuses on her spiritual awakening, visions, and pilgrimages
  • Book II describes her later years and continued spiritual growth
• Kempe's narrative is non-linear, often moving back and forth in time and focusing on her spiritual experiences
• The book provides insight into the life of a laywoman in medieval England and the nature of female spirituality
• It also explores themes of sin, redemption, and the relationship between the individual and God
• The original manuscript was lost, but a copy was discovered in 1934, leading to renewed interest in Kempe's work

Themes and Motifs in Kempe's Writing

• Spiritual journey: Kempe's book traces her spiritual growth and the development of her relationship with God
• Mystical experiences: Visions, revelations, and direct communication with God and religious figures are central to Kempe's narrative
• Tears and crying: Kempe frequently describes her uncontrollable weeping as a sign of her devotion and spiritual intensity
• Marginal status: As a laywoman pursuing a spiritual life, Kempe often faces skepticism and opposition from religious authorities and society
• Gender and authority: Kempe navigates the challenges of being a female mystic in a male-dominated religious hierarchy
• Pilgrimage: Kempe's travels to holy sites are a significant part of her spiritual journey and a way of demonstrating her devotion
• Suffering and imitatio Christi: Kempe sees her own struggles and hardships as a way of identifying with and emulating Christ's suffering

Mysticism and Religious Experiences

• Kempe's book is filled with accounts of her mystical experiences, which include visions, revelations, and direct communication with God and religious figures
• Her visions often involve biblical scenes and characters, such as the Passion of Christ and the Virgin Mary
• Kempe describes sensory experiences during her visions, such as smells, sounds, and physical sensations
• She interprets her mystical experiences as a sign of God's grace and her special spiritual status
• Kempe's experiences reflect the tradition of affective piety, which emphasized emotional identification with Christ's suffering
• Her mysticism is deeply personal and often unconventional, challenging the boundaries of orthodox religious practice
• Kempe's tears and loud crying during prayer and meditation are a distinctive feature of her spirituality
  • She sees these as a gift from God and a sign of her devotion, although they often draw criticism from others

Literary Style and Middle English Features

• The Book of Margery Kempe is written in Middle English, the form of English used from the late 11th to the late 15th century
• Kempe's language is vernacular and reflects the East Midland dialect of her region
• The book's style is often repetitive and non-linear, reflecting the oral nature of its composition
• Kempe's narrative voice is distinctive, characterized by her use of direct speech and vivid descriptions of her experiences
• The text includes many religious terms and references, reflecting Kempe's spiritual focus
• Kempe's use of language is often emotive and expressive, particularly when describing her mystical experiences and religious feelings
• The book's syntax and grammar reflect the patterns of spoken language, with frequent use of parataxis and simple sentence structures
• Scribal errors and inconsistencies in the text reflect the challenges of transcribing an oral narrative

Controversies and Reception

• Kempe's unconventional spirituality and behavior often led to conflicts with religious authorities and skepticism from others
• Her loud weeping and public displays of devotion were seen as disruptive and inappropriate, particularly for a laywoman
• Kempe faced accusations of heresy and hypocrisy, with some questioning the authenticity of her mystical experiences
• Her claims of spiritual authority and direct communication with God challenged the male-dominated religious hierarchy
• Kempe's status as a married woman pursuing a spiritual life defied social norms and expectations
• The Book of Margery Kempe was not widely circulated during her lifetime, and the original manuscript was lost for centuries
• The rediscovery of the book in 1934 led to a reassessment of Kempe's significance and her place in the history of English literature and spirituality
• Modern scholars have debated the extent to which Kempe's narrative is autobiographical or shaped by literary and spiritual conventions

Legacy and Modern Interpretations

• Margery Kempe is now recognized as an important figure in the history of English literature and spirituality
• Her book provides a rare glimpse into the inner life and experiences of a medieval woman
• Kempe's work has been studied for its insights into female spirituality, mysticism, and the role of women in medieval society
• The Book of Margery Kempe has been interpreted through various lenses, including feminist, historicist, and theological approaches
• Kempe's experiences have been compared to those of other medieval mystics, such as Julian of Norwich and Catherine of Siena
• Her book has been seen as a precursor to later autobiographical and confessional writing by women
• Kempe's legacy has inspired creative works, including novels, plays, and poetry
• The study of Kempe's book has contributed to a broader understanding of the diversity and complexity of medieval religious experience