Abstract | Keywords | Export | Availability | Bookmark

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This study traces the genealogy of Saint Perpetua’s story with a straightforward yet previously overlooked question at its center: How was Perpetua remembered and to what uses was that memory put? One of the most popular and venerated saints from 200 CE to the thirteenth century, the story of Saint Perpetua was retold in dramatically different forms across the European Middle Ages. Her story begins in the arena at Carthage: a 22-year-old nursing mother named Vibia Perpetua was executed for being a Christian, leaving behind a self-authored account of her time in prison leading up to her martyrdom. By turns loving mother, militant gladiator, empathic young woman, or unattainable ideal, Saint Perpetua’s story ultimately helps to trace the circulation of texts and the transformations of ideals of Christian womanhood between the third and thirteenth centuries.

Feminist theology. --- Theology, Feminist --- Literature. --- Culture --- Literature --- Literature, Medieval. --- European literature. --- Sociology. --- Sex (Psychology). --- Gender expression. --- Gender identity. --- Medieval Literature. --- Gender Studies. --- Postcolonial/World Literature. --- Literary Theory. --- Cultural Theory. --- European Literature. --- Sex identity (Gender identity) --- Sexual identity (Gender identity) --- Identity (Psychology) --- Sex (Psychology) --- Queer theory --- Expression, Gender --- Sex role --- Psychology, Sexual --- Sex --- Sexual behavior, Psychology of --- Sexual psychology --- Sensuality --- Social theory --- Social sciences --- European literature --- Medieval literature --- Literature and philosophy --- Philosophy and literature --- Cultural studies --- Belles-lettres --- Western literature (Western countries) --- World literature --- Philology --- Authors --- Authorship --- Study and teaching. --- Philosophy. --- Psychological aspects --- Theory --- Theology, Doctrinal --- Literature   . --- Literature-Philosophy. --- Culture-Study and teaching. --- Literature—Philosophy. --- Culture—Study and teaching. --- Perpetua, --- Tunisia. --- Perpétue, --- Vibia Perpetua, --- Chunijia --- Chunijia Kyōwakoku --- Jumhuriya at-Tunisiya --- Jumhūrīyah al-Tūnisīyah --- Republic of Tunisia --- République tunisienne --- Tunesien --- Túnez --- Tunis --- Tunisie --- Tunisskai͡a Respublika --- Tunisyah --- Perpetua --- Perpétue --- Vibia Perpetua