christine de pizan the book of the city of ladies

Going to war, attending their prince's court, and traveling are the three primary duties of such a lord. Why do I say that? If barons wish to be honoured as they deserve, they spend very little time in their manors and on their own lands. This means that she should not be brought up overmuch among women nor should she be indulged in extensive and feminine pampering. Of her a philosopher might have said: 'No one is wise who does not know some part of everything.' Moreover, she must have the courage of a man. The knowledge of a baroness must be so comprehensive that she can understand everything. “ must be highly knowledgeable about government, and wise – in fact, far wiser than most other such women in power. They know that they stand wrongfully accused, and that the cake has not been divided up equally, for the strongest take the lion's share, and the one who does the sharing out keeps the biggest portion for himself.”ĭer Sendbrief vom Liebesgott / The Letter of the God of Love But if women had written these books, I know full well the subject would have been handled differently. Those who plead their cause in the absence of an opponent can invent to their heart's content, can pontificate without taking into account the opposite point of view and keep the best arguments for themselves, for aggressors are always quick to attack those who have no means of defence. My response is that women did not write these books nor include the material which attacks them and their morals. And if anyone tells me that books are full of women like these, it is this very reply, frequently given, which causes me to complain. Therefore, since it is necessary to call on such skill, ingenuity, and effort in order to seduce a woman, whether of high or humble birth, the logical conclusion to draw is that women are by no means as fickle as some men claim, or as easily influenced in their behaviour. “Yet if women are so flighty, fickle, changeable, susceptible, and inconstant (as some clerks would have us believe), why is it that their suitors have to resort to such trickery to have their way with them? And why don't women quickly succumb to them, without the need for all this skill and ingenuity in conquering them? For there is no need to go to war for a castle that is already captured.

Christine de pizan the book of the city of ladies