The Heptameron Experience

Marguerite De Navarre's The Heptameron is an interesting reading experience. The language with which it is written is representative of its time period, however, the context of the stories seems to be very progressive. In a time when gender roles were specific and stringently adhered to, Marguerite De Navarre's work is a great example of feminist strength. As Navarre writes about her heroine Rolandine in “Novel XXI”: “Do not say that she exposed her honor, since by her firmness she been the means of so augmenting ours” (164). The power that the women hold in each of her stories is unique and well ahead of the time. I felt that each female protagonist had something of an unexpected nature to offer. For example; in the first story, St. Aignan's wife's actions push him to act in an unprecedented manner. Or the wife of the muleteer in the second novel whose pride, convictions, and morality are stronger than her desire to live.

While reading each story, I felt as though I was learning something new. Not necessarily a scholarly trait, but rather a personal one. Each of Marguerite De Navarre's protagonists represents a bold and unforeseen force. The Heptameron draws a fine but clearly perceptible line between the genders. As Anne R. Larsen wrote in her book Renaissance Women Writers: French Texts, American Context: “…The women’s morality differs from that of the men, for whom class distinction is more important” (154). De Navarre focuses on the virtue, ethics and morality of women as one of their greatest strengths. It is inspiring to see how the boatwoman of Coulon manages to elude the Friars, or how a wife can outwit her husband to save the life of her true love. The Heptameron I think, is much more than a collection of stories. It is a symbol of the progressive movement that has and continues to take place among feminists, even before feminism as we know it today. It is a celebration of the heroine, no matter what form she may take. This work represents a vast amount of respect for women and it is something that is still highly relevant today. It certainly was not the easiest of reading material given the language of its time, but the underlying subtopic of each plot is universal. I enjoyed this work because it was something unexpected and inspiring. It reminds us that we are not to be held back by what others think that we should be, we are capable of so much more.

Works Cited

Kelly, Walter Keating. The Heptameron of Margaret, queen of Navarre. London: Pub. for the trade, 1853. Print.

Larsen, Anne. Renaissance Women Writers: French Texts, American Subtext. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 1994. Print.