Biblical models of Womanhood: Ester and the Salvation of the Jewish People

Abstract

Ester, a virtuous woman who risked her life to protect and save the Jewish people, is the last woman spoken of in the Old Testament. In the present work we start with the analysis of this figure in the Book of Ester, and then proceed to study the interpretations given by the Fathers of the Church and conclude with the comments that, as a feminine archetype rooted in medieval society, she has triggered in different medieval authors. This will allow us to trace the evolution of this feminine archetype and the role attributed to this female model in medieval French treatises for the instruction of women, such as Christine de Pizan’s La Cité des Dames, Le Ménagier de Paris and Le Livre du Chevalier de la Tour Landry pour l’enseignement de ses filles.