As a young girl, Christine’s father recognized the unparalleled gift within his daughter and gave her what was usually reserved for only the men of her time – an education. Christine’s mother didn’t understand, but her father most certainly did. Christine owned an intellect above and beyond any other her well educated, intelligent, and talented father had ever known. Equally so, Christine’s husband undoubtedly recognized the genius within Christine as well – also promoting her continued studies and her growth in knowledge. These two men quite obviously knew that Christine had an exquisite intellect that few men owned. Remarkably, Christine’s father and husband were never afraid of Christine’s brilliance. Instead of acting as most all the men of Christine’s day would – they encouraged Christine to add …show more content…
As a woman in an age when men controlled almost all things – a woman was expected to “keep her place,” and to “stay out of the affairs of men.” In The Book of the City of Ladies, Christine de Pizan spoke with a voice of pure innocence, turning the dogmatic themes of men upon themselves to enlighten these otherwise stale minds of “learned men.” Christine managed to teach these men without their conscious knowledge that it was Christine who provided such enlightenment. These men believed Christine’s words were the words of God – passed through a “vision” or a “divine experience” that gave Christine the voice to scold and educate those men who ridiculed, derided, demeaned – and feared