Three Methods for Reading the Thirteenth-Century Seinte Marherete
This study investigates the implications of the portrayal of the virgin martyr as dragon-slayer. An initial reading of the thirteenth-century text of Seinte Marherete would suggest that Margaret’s power to burst through the dragon’s back, and her self-appellation as kempe, or champion, demonstrates the power available to the virgin to overcome hell and its temptations. While this is a valid reading, it is insufficient to account for the many layers of meaning woven into the text. the wide range of approaches and areas covers will make this highly original study of interest to those working in many disciplines, such as literary theory, medieval studies, teratology, feminist historical studies, body inscription and early medieval Christian theology.
Book Reviews
“. . an excellent piece of work, both in terms of its interpretation of a medieval text and its theoretical sophistication. It is engaging, astute, and thorough.
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“. . [a] scholarly and critically sophisticated exploration into a complex topic, the significance of the traditional dragon story, read through a close analysis of the story of Seinte Marharete and a range of related material.”
“In her exciting and landmark study of the meaning of virginity both in biblical and romance stories, Cadwallader makes a major contribution to the feminist discourse on the concept of virginity and its related theme of the female body.
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