Medieval Mothering

by Bonnie Wheeler (Editor)

In 19 original essays, this study offers a broad range of approaches to medieval society's undertanding of mothering and the uses to which the practice and imagery of mothering could be assumed by females and males alike. Theoretical essays examine medical and literary sources to establish that for male commentators, the narrowly biological, female parameters of maternity were insistently supplanted by images of nurturant mothering, an ungendered activity that could be preempted and associated with male behavior. The remainder focus on representations of motherhood in Old Norse and Icelandic literatures, and on record evidence for the maternal behavior of actual mothers in medieval France, England, and Spain.

Genres: Nonfiction

402 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Bonnie Wheeler is associate professor and Director of Medieval Studies at the Southern Methodist University, Dedman College of Humanities & Sciences (Dallas, Texas).

Reviews

[Rebecca Fell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fundamental read that has informed several parts of my research for my dissertation. This gave me a well-rounded critical overview of the function of Medieval Motherhood.