Page "Christine de Pizan" Paragraph 6

De Pizan ’ s participation in a literary quarrel, in 1401 – 1402, allowed her to move beyond the courtly circles, and ultimately to establish her status as a writer concerned with the position of women in society.

During these years, she involved herself in a renowned literary debate, the “ Querelle du Roman de la Rose ”.

She helped to instigate this debate by beginning to question the literary merits of Jean de Meun ’ s the Romance of the Rose.

Written in the 13th century, the Romance of the Rose satirizes the conventions of courtly love while critically depicting women as nothing more than seducers.

De Pizan specifically objected to the use of vulgar terms in Jean de Meun ’ s allegorical poem.

She argued that these terms denigrated the proper and natural function of sexuality, and that such language was inappropriate for female characters such as Madame Raison.

According to her, noble women did not use such language.

Her critique primarily stems from her belief that Jean de Meun was purposely slandering women through the debated text.