Virginity Revisited: Configurations of the Unpossessed Body (Studies in Gender, Phoenix Supplementary Volumes)

From Classical Antiquity to the present, virginity has been closely allied with power: as someone who chooses a life of celibacy retains mastery over his or her body. Sexual potency withheld becomes an energy-reservoir that can ensure independence and enhance self-esteem, but it can also be harnessed by public institutions and redirected for the common good. This was the founding principle of the Vestal Virgins of Rome and later in the monastic orders of the middle ages. Mythical accounts of goddesses and heroines who possessed the ability to recover their virginity after sexual experience demonstrate a belief that virginity is paradoxically connected both with social autonomy and the ability to serve the human community. Virginity Revisited is a collection of essays that examines virginity not as a physical reality but as a cultural artefact. By situating the topic of virginity within a range of historical 'moments' and using a variety of methodologies, Virginity Revisited illuminates how chastity provided a certain agency, autonomy, and power to women. This is a study of the positive and negative features of sexual renunciation, from ancient Greek divinities and mythical women, in Rome's Vestal Virgins, in the Christian martyrs and Mariology in the Medieval and early Modern period, and in Grace Marks, the heroine of Margaret Atwood's novel Alias Grace . Virginity Revisited Is A Collection Of Essays That Examines Virginity Not As A Physical Reality But As A Cultural Artefact. By Situating The Topic Of Virginity Within A Range Of Historical 'moments' And Using A Variety Of Methodologies, Virginity Revisited Illuminates How Chastity Provided A Certain Agency, Autonomy, And Power To Women. This Is A Study Of The Positive And Negative Features Of Sexual Renunciation, In Ancient Greek Divinities And Mythical Women, In Rome's Vestal Virgins, In The Christian Martyrs And Mariology In The Medieval And Early Modern Period, And In Grace Marks, The Heroine Of Margaret Atwood's Novel Alias Grace.--book Jacket. Introduction / Bonnie Maclachlan -- The Invention Of Virginity On Olympus / Eleanor Irwin -- The Virgin Choruses Of Aeschylus / Judith Fletcher -- The Hippocratic Parthenos In Sickness And Health / Ann Ellis Hanson -- Why Were The Vestals Virgins? Or The Chastity Of Women And The Safety Of The Roman State / Holt N. Parker -- 'only Virgins Can Give Birth To Christ' : The Virgin Mary And The Problem Of Female Authority In Late Antiquity / Kate Cooper -- Virgo Fortis : Images Of The Crucified Virgin Saint In Medieval Art / Ilse Friesen -- Amplification Of The Virgin : Play And Empowerment In Walter Of Wimborne's Marie Carmina / Jenifer Sutherland -- Christ From The Head Of Jupiter : An Epistemological Note On Huet's Treatment Of The Virgin Birth / Thomas Lennon -- 'sew And Snip, And Patch Together A Genius' : Quilting A Virginal Identity In Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace / Anne Geddes Bailey. Edited By Bonnie Maclachlan And Judith Fletcher. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [177]-196) And Index. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Contributors 10 Introduction 14 1. The Invention of Virginity on Olympus 24 2. The Virgin Choruses of Aeschylus 35 3. The Hippocratic Parthenos in Sickness and Health 51 4. Why Were the Vestals Virgins? Or the Chastity of Women and the Safety of the Roman State 77 5. ‘Only Virgins Can Give Birth to Christ’: The Virgin Mary and the Problem of Female Authority in Late Antiquity 111 6. Virgo Fortis: Images of the Crucified Virgin Saint in Medieval Art 127 7. Amplification of the Virgin: Play and Empowerment in Walter of Wimborne’s Marie Carmina 139 8. Christ from the Head of Jupiter: An Epistemological Note on Huet’s Treatment of the Virgin Birth 160 9. ‘Sew and snip, and patch together a genius’: Quilting a Virginal Identity in Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace 167 Works Cited 188 Index 208 A 208 B 208 C 208 D 209 E 209 F 209 G 210 H 210 I 211 J 211 K 211 L 211 M 211 N 212 O 212 P 212 R 213 S 213 T 214 U 214 V 214 W 215