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72-28,891
EDMONDS, Barbara P., 1934-
ASPECTS OF CHRISTINE DE PISAN’S SOCIAL AND
POLITICAL IDEAS. [Portions of Text in French].
University of Maryland, Ph.D., 1972
Language and Literature, modern
University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED
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ASPECTS OF CHRISTINE DE PISAN'S SOCIAL
AND POLITICAL IDEAS
by
Barbara P« Edmonds
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School
of the University of Maryland in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
1972
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APPROVAL SHEET
Title of Thesisi Aspects of Christine de Pisan's Social and Political
Ideas
Name of Candidate* Barbara P. Edmonds
Doctor of Philosophy, 1972
Thesis and Abstract Approved*
William MacBain
Professor and Chairman
Department of French and Italian
Date Approved*
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ABSTRACT
Title of Thesis: Aspects of Christine de Pisan's Social and Political
Ideas
Barbara P. Edmonds, Doctor of Philosophy, 1972
Thesis directed by: Dr. William MacBain
Christine de Pisan, the first professional woman writer in France,
is most celebrated as the author of a voluminous output of often conven
tional love lyrics. However, her sober treatises on a number of social
and political issues are even more noteworthy. Much has been written
about her feminism and her ideas on education. This dissertation aims at
evaluating certain other aspects of her social and political thinking
which, hitherto, have not been studied to any extent: her role as a his
torian, her political thought, her view of the nobility and of chivalric
ideals, and the reflection of personal relationships in her works.
As for historical perspective, her attempt to write a biographical
history of Charles V in Le Livre des fais et bonnes meurs du sage roy
Charles V lacks what today might be termed historical method. Coming
chronologically between Froissart and Coramynes, her work resembles nei
ther one. Her effort to write a panegyric of Charles V and to glorify
his reign has more of an affinity with Joinville's history of Saint Louis.
But, what is most important is that she vividly captures the spirit of the
age.
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Her view of the nobility is ambivalent. Basically a traditionalist,
she believes in the power of the nobility to restore France to a position
of dignity in world affairs. However, she is keenly aware of their present
and past failures, which she mentions in many of her works, outlining the
role of chivalry and formulating a plan for the rehabilitation of the no
bility.
Moreover, Christine's political commitment places her in the avant-
garde of writers who are engages. During the years 1405-1429 she wrote
a series of political works which were inspired by a deep feeling of pa
triotism for her adopted country. Christine was a strident voice in be
half of peace and administrative reform, expressing her opinion at a time
when few women dared hold one, A revaluation of her political ideas
against the backdrop of historical events which prompted them is in order,
since editions of her two main political works, previously unedited, have
recently appeared: Le Livre de la paix (1958) and Le Livre du corps de
policie (1967).
In addition, her social commentary involves human relationships.
Particularly conscious of the family as an entity, she makes frequent re
ferences to filial, maternal, and conjugal relationships. Above all, she
is an exponent of fidelity in marriage and an opponent of courtly love
which she sees as socially undesirable. She is a social and political
theorist whose ideas are subservient to moral precepts. Her interest in
bettering the human condition is based on her belief in the ultimate
triumph of righteousness and in infinite human perfectibility.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I should like to express my gratitude to the following peoplei
to Dr. William MacBain whose logic often made sense out of chaos; to
Dr. George Jones whose stylistic suggestions enhanced numerous passages;
to Dr. Eric Hicks whose knowledge of bibliography added immeasurably to
several chapters. In addition, I should like to thank Mrs. Ruth Conway,
the typist, who worked persistently to meet a pressing deadline and who
agonized over the old French as much as I did. Above all, I must acknow
ledge my husband, Gordon Edmonds, whose nine years of patience and under
standing made this project possible.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Pa8e
Acknowledgement ............................. •
I. Age of Transition .....................................1
II. Christine de Pisan—Her Life and Works.........................24
III, Christine as a Historian.....................................*6
IV. Political Ideas..............................................86
V. The Nobility and ChivalricA ttitudes ........................ 134
VI. Personal Relationships ................... I68
Conclusion............................. 206
Appendix A ............... 210
Selected Bibliography ........................................... 211
iii
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AGE OF TRANSITION
1
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