de Navarre

            Marguerite de Navarre sought to protect those not born of nobility from persecution and to provide them a sort of safe haven. Although she remained a Catholic she appeared as a protestant sympathizer and to have “hoped for internal reform” (Puchner 1638). Focusing her life’s work “on intellectual and literary pursuits and on religious meditation and debate” de Navarre herself became suspected of “Protestant ‘heresy’” (1638). In de Navarre’s The Heptameron she captures the importance of truth in relating any story or history and makes sure her characters take an oath of truthfulness to unveil “how social factors influence their view of the world” (1639). Not only is honesty in facts and opinions important but it is important that all viewpoints are known and acknowledged.

            The importance of honesty (and honest pursuits) is evident in the Prologue and Story 8 of The Heptameron. Perhaps as a way of creating a transparent portrait of herself de Navarre’s characters provide frequent reminders of the importance of staying true to character and the facts.  The Prologue introduces the characters and among them is the Lady Oisille. When the group members discuss how to pass the time she proposes religious study. She not only proposes it but after a short speech on how she, a pious and God loving woman, spends her days she informs the rest: “For, a person who knows God will find all things beautiful in Him, and without Him all things will seem ugly. So I say to you, if you would live in happiness, heed my advice” (de Navarre 1641). Very amiably the rest of the group agrees that the spiritual is an important part of life but they must find some form of entertainment to resist boredom and fatigue while promising they will continue religious endeavors in addition to more entertaining ones.

            Story 8 features “a man by the name of Bornet, who had married a very decent and respectable woman” (de Navarre 1643). Bornet’s character begins as the antithesis of the characters in the Prologue. The dishonest behavior of Bornet leads to a gross misunderstanding. His wife informs him that his “depraved pent-up lust” and dishonest motives caused his sense to dull and vehemently pronounces: “I did what I did in order to save you from your wicked ways, so that when you get old, we can live happily and peacefully together without anything on our consciences” (1645).

            Bornet’s wife’s proclamation that she wants them to “live happily and peacefully together” sums up what de Navarre’s intentions were. With dishonesty and grandiose assumptions comes a high price. In her time it was the death of assumed Protestants and their sympathizers. In seeing only half-truths and           not accepting the other side of the argument mistakes are made.

Works Cited

de Navarre, Marguerite. The Heptameron.” Trans. P.A. Chilton. Beginnings to 1650. Ed. Martin Puchner. 3^rd Shorter ed. New York: Norton, 2013. 1640-1647. Print. Vol. 1 of The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2 vols.

Puchner, Martin. “Marguerite de Navarre.” Beginnings to 1650. Ed. Puchner. Shorter 3^rd ed. New York: Norton, 2013. 1637-1639. Print. Vol. 1 of The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2 vols.