The Book of the City of Ladies is one of the most successful works of Christine de Pizan. The author protects women by collecting a wide range of famous females throughout history. Book represents three allegorical goddesses (Lady Reason, Lady Rectitude and Lady Justice) and de Pizan. They asked the author to build the city where all the noble women can live. These goddesses are the symbols of prejudice a lot of men have about women. These stereotypical thought are concentrated in the city built by de Pizan.
Nowadays such stereotypes are still alive. However, there are some women who can defy and stand these stereotypical thoughts. A famous singer Madonna is a great example of this kind of fight. Madonna denies the marriage after her one has failed with a bang. Madonna regards men only as an “instrument” for making children. Everybody can see her numerous romances with different men. Another widespread stereotype about all the women of her age is disability to have perfect body because, actually, of their age. Madonna shows marvelous results of her work on the scene and in music clips. Society defines it like a challenge, but Madonna does not stop everyday’s work.
The book explores such questions as the criminality of rape, the natural affinity in women to learn, and their talent to government. A lot of women all over the world can easily defy all the stereotypical regards. The world of politics has already submitted to women. There are so many spheres women can reveal their abilities and talents. Madonna has become the example of this revelation long ago. Not only singers consider this woman as a kind of a rebel. She really rebels against stereotypes, social prejudice, narrow-mindedness, various circumstances, etc. Using the name of a Saint as a pseudonym at the same time with unbelievable concert activity she is defying any possible stereotypes.
Works Cited
De Pizan, Christine. The Book of the City of Ladies. 1405. Trans. Rosalind Brown-Grant. London: Penguin, 1999. …