Triangles of the Sacred Sisterhood

Authors

  • Aileen MacDonald

Abstract

"Triangles of the Sacred Sisterhood" shows how Marie de France, in Éliduc, and Clemence of Barking, in her Life of Saint Catherine, subvert the eternal triangle of husband, wife, and lover when they form new triangles in which two ladies act together as sisters against one man to obliterate an old patriarchal power block and give rare advantage to the female side. Love of God is chosen over courtly love by both authors, and Marie, like Clemence, is seen as a powerful advocate of a highly cultured and influential convent sisterhood.

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Published

2005-01-01

How to Cite

MacDonald, A. (2005). Triangles of the Sacred Sisterhood. Florilegium, 22, 155–170. Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/flor/article/view/12521

Issue

Volume 22 (2005)

Section

Special Cluster ― Literary Structures in Late Twelfth-Century Texts