Apocalyptic Mother: Revelations of a World Turned Upside Down in The Book of Margery Kempe

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Bruce, J. (2016). Apocalyptic Mother: Revelations of a World Turned Upside Down in The Book of Margery Kempe. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The Book of Margery Kempe is a fifteenth-century memoir that recounts the transformation of an English prophet or mystic from a "sinful wretch" to a vessel for the "Holy Ghost." She interprets this change in her life as one from abundance and fertility to barrenness. The transitional moment in her life reflects on the trauma experienced with her first pregnancy during which she feared her own death. From this moment forward, she progresses in stages through a series of revolutions towards the role of prophet, with a message of union and inclusion. The evidence for this claim derives from the biblical texts re-contextualized through her experiences in England and abroad. Kempe most welcomes the experiences of mothers and their children, desiring to reunite those who are separated through her divine gift of tears. This paper analyzes Kempe's propheticism alongside the models in her book (i.e. the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene) to suggest that the danger she poses as a public mother compares more closely with the Old Testament apocalyptic mother, Rachel, who is cast out of society for a similar threat.

Details
Author

Bruce, Julie

Title

Apocalyptic Mother: Revelations of a World Turned Upside Down in The Book of Margery Kempe

Physical Description

1 online resource (63 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The Book of Margery Kempe is a fifteenth-century memoir that recounts the transformation of an English prophet or mystic from a "sinful wretch" to a vessel for the "Holy Ghost." She interprets this change in her life as one from abundance and fertility to barrenness. The transitional moment in her life reflects on the trauma experienced with her first pregnancy during which she feared her own death. From this moment forward, she progresses in stages through a series of revolutions towards the role of prophet, with a message of union and inclusion. The evidence for this claim derives from the biblical texts re-contextualized through her experiences in England and abroad. Kempe most welcomes the experiences of mothers and their children, desiring to reunite those who are separated through her divine gift of tears. This paper analyzes Kempe's propheticism alongside the models in her book (i.e. the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene) to suggest that the danger she poses as a public mother compares more closely with the Old Testament apocalyptic mother, Rachel, who is cast out of society for a similar threat.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

History--Religious aspects

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

England
Mysticism
Women

Subject Area

Religious Studies

Advisor(s)

Robinson, Joanne

Committee Members

Tabor, James
Brintnall, Kent

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Bruce_uncc_0694N_11102

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:349