The City of Ladies In Easy language

Author: Christine de Pizan Written in:

1405 (early 15th century)Language:

French (later translated into many languages)

Genre: Allegory / Feminist Philosophy / Social Commentary

👩‍🎓 Who was Christine de Pizan?

Christine de Pizan was one of the first professional women writers in Europe.She lived in France during the Middle Ages—a time when women were often seen as weak, sinful, or inferior to men.

She had read many books written by male scholars who criticized women unfairly, and she became upset.

So she decided to defend women and prove that they, too, were intelligent, virtuous, and capable. This book—The Book of the City of Ladies—is her answer to all those who insulted women.

🏰 Main Idea of the Book

Christine imagines that she is building a city — not made of stone and bricks, but made of the stories of great women from history, myth, and religion.

Each woman she describes becomes like a brick or wall in this symbolic “City of Ladies.”

The city represents a safe space where women’s dignity, wisdom, and virtue are honored and protected.

🕊️ Structure of the Book

The book has three parts, each guided by three allegorical (symbolic) women who appear to Christine in a vision.

Part 1: Building the Foundation

Guided by: Lady Reason 🧠

Christine feels sad after reading books that call women evil or foolish. Then, three beautiful ladies appear before her: Reason, Rectitude, and Justice.

Lady Reason tells her not to believe those false writings by men. She says women have been wrongly judged and that reason and truth prove their worth.

Together, they begin to lay the foundation of the City by naming many intelligent and brave women.

Examples of women mentioned:

Queen Semiramis (powerful ruler)

Dido (founded Carthage)

Amazons (brave warrior women)

Sappho (famous poet)

Minerva (goddess of wisdom)

These women represent strength, intelligence, and leadership.

Part 2: Building the Walls and Houses

Guided by: Lady Rectitude (Good behaviour )⚖️

Lady Rectitude helps Christine build the city walls and buildings.

They fill the city with women known for virtue, honesty, loyalty, and moral strength.

Christine shows that women can be loyal wives, brave daughters, wise rulers, and even saints.

Examples:

Penelope (faithful wife of Odysseus)

Lucretia (symbol of purity)

Judith (saved her people with courage)

Catherine of Alexandria (intelligent Christian martyr)

The message here:👉 Women are not weak or immoral by nature.👉 They have moral power and wisdom equal to men

Part 3: Completing and Protecting the City

Guided by: Lady Justice ⚖️✨

Lady Justice helps finish the city by bringing in holy and virtuous women — saints, martyrs, and spiritual figures.

The city is now a shining symbol of female strength and virtue.

Lady Justice says God loves righteous women and will protect this city forever.

Christine ends by inviting all good women to enter the city and live safely inside its symbolic walls.

Final Message

Christine de Pizan’s City of Ladies is both a dream and a protest.

She dreams of a world where women are safe, respected, and educated,and she protests against the unjust image of women created by male authors.

Her city is symbolic—it exists in the mind and heart of every person who values justice and equality.