Gender, Death and Dying in Medieval Europe

Abstract

This presentation will examine three medieval mystics; Hadewijch, Marguerite Porete, and Meister Eckhart; Christian mystics who wrote about death during the high and late Middle Ages, specifically the idea of self-annihilation. And how this idea was influenced and influenced gender in Medieval Europe. These three mystics share many similarities as they all dealt with the idea of self-annihilation, albeit in different way, and they all wrote and or preached in the vernacular of the area in which they lived. Despite the similarities between these figures they each came to a very different fate. This presentation will explore why that was the case, the difference in their ideas and how these ideas were influenced by gender.

Department: History

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sean Hannan