Margery Kempe

1
Margery Kempe

• Daughter of John Brunham, who was once mayor of
  Kings Lynn in Norfolk
• Married John Kempe of Lynn c.1393, but abandoned
  him and married life to devote herself to
  religion
• Apparently her husband agreed to the terms of
  their separation they both took a vow of celibacy

2
Margery Kempe

• Kempe had clearly fulfilled her marital
  responsibilitiesshe and her husband had 14
  children
• Kempe made a spectacle of herself with her noisy
  weeping during her visions
• Traveled widely on pilgrimages to Jerusalem,
  Rome, Compostella, and various other sites

3
Book of Margery Kempe

• Recounts Kempes visions and experiences with
  great vividness
• Experiences recounted include temptations to
  lechery, travels, and accusations of heresy

4
Book of Margery Kempe

• Kempe was illiterate, so she had to dictate her
  book in two parts to two different scribes
• The second scribe was a priest, and he revised
  the whole text, making one wonder what other
  changes he might have made

5
Book of Margery Kempe

• Experts assure us that the work still has Kempes
  characteristic touch, despite the editorial
  changes
• The work isnt a mystical text in the strictest
  sense, so it doesnt have that sort of appeal

6
Why do we study The Book of Margery Kempe?

• Kempes style is vigorous and readable and the
  subject matter is generally interesting
• The work is an early example of autobiography,
  providing insight into life in the late middle
  ages

7
Julian of Norwich

• Was a recluse in a cell attached to the church of
  St. Julian at Norwich
• Wrote Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love (c.1393)
  describing visions revealed to her during her
  illness in 1373 and her reflections on them

8
Julian of Norwich

• We know next to nothing about Julian, aside from
  the information that she provides in A Book of
  Showings
• Julians description of her showings or
  revelations is precisewe know the exact date of
  the visions May 13, 1373

9
Julian of Norwich

• There are two versions of A Book of Showings a
  short version and a long version
• Long version of Showings contains Julians
  commentary, which was result of years of
  contemplation, study, and prayer on visions

10
Julian of Norwich

• Julian developed some rich and incredibly complex
  theological concepts during her contemplation of
  the visions
• Showings is the work of an accomplished prose
  stylist, and a thoughtful Christian theologian
  and mystic