Eve's Apology in Defense of Women
In one of Aemilia Lanyer's poems, "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women," a reinterpretation of the past has been presented as a means to demand a better present, and future, for women. Though Lanyer lived when the world frowned upon women writers, she managed to be "one of the few published woman poets of the Renaissance" (p 1059). This fact of such a great accomplishment for a woman in the world did not, however, changes the forms in which it was acceptable for a woman to write. Therefore, because Lanyer was limited to write in the form of a journal, letter or devotation, her cry for sexual equality needed to be disguised in one of these forms. Thus, as a devotation to God, Aemilia Lanyer pushed her work to new heights within a feminist point of view. To accomplish this push, while staying within the accepted forms of women's writing, Lanyer discusses a few important biblical events. The earliest of said events being the fall of Adam and Eve from the grace of God. Another of Lanyer's topics is the sentencing and crucifixion of Christ by Pilate. Also while speaking on Pilate, Lanyer mentions Saul, who sought the death of David, however briefly. Aemilia Lanyer has provided a very strong argument, within the confines of her
society, for the reasons why women deserve and have earned the right to equality with men. The sentencing and crucifixion of Christ by Pilate is another of Lanyer's main topics. Throughout "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women" she pleads with Pilate to follow his heart about Jesus' faultlessness. She cries "don not in innocent blood inbrue thy hands" (p 1059 ln 6). Continually Eve's mistake, that of a naive, simple woman is compared with the great evil that Pilate is about to make as he refuses to heed his wife's warning. This is Lanyer's way to further prove the innocence of Eve, and in turn, of all women. Pilate's wife, according to Lanyer has redeemed women from any guilt that Eve may have placed upon their heads. It was his wife that "wrote her husband a letter urging Pilate to spare Jesus about whom she had a warning dream. (Matthew 27.19)" (p 1060 note 5). Lanyer emphasizes how this dream and letter have erased the stroke against womenkind. Lanyer argues that "her (Eve's) sin was small to what you do commit (the crucifixion)" (p 1061 ln 74), and therefore, Lanyer continues, these sins "Are not to be compared" (p 1061 ln 76). So to Pilate she pleads that "this sin of yours surmounts them all" (p 1060 ln 79), all other sins combined that is, including Eve's. Each line that Aemilia Lanyer has written towards Pilate, and in turn towards all men, has been building to make him aware of how monstrous his sin will be. To drive her point home, Lanyer continues "if one weak woman (Eve) simply did offend,/ This sin of yours hath no excuse nor end" (p 1062 ln 87-8). As the final nail on Pilate's cross, Lanyer compares him to Saul. Like Saul who "sought the death of God's anointed prophet-king, David" (p 1062 note 6), Pilate too seeks the death of an innocent man, chosen by God. The difference between Saul and Pilate lies mainly in two points. The first, that David was chosen by God to be a king, but Jesus was his son. The second was
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Approximate Word count = 1319
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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