Women of the Modern world have been viewed in many different lights; women of Early Modern Europe were not viewed in a most positive perspective; however, women across Europe were treated differently. The texts Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis and Princesse de Clèves by Mme de Lafayette each give insight to the lives of women in the Early Modern Period. Lafayette has a focus on the nobility, following a noble woman trying to navigate love. While Davis tells the story of a woman who is left by a husband, who eventually returns, twice. Each text gives us an interpretation of the life women lived in this period of time; they have differences, as the nobles and commoners did, but share many similarities. In this essay, I will …show more content…
de Clèves, as well as, M. de Nemours, the man who she is in love with, and he with her. M. de Clèves is madly in love with his wife, as evidenced by his many claims of love, and statements of appreciation of such a spectacular wife. He would do anything for his bride whom he adored. He almost seems bewitched by her beauty and grace, alas he is not the only one. M. de Nemours also has an infatuation with Mme de Clèves. Nemours lives a life of a bachelor; he has many mistresses and does not care to settle down, though he could have his pick of women. Once he becomes infatuated with Mme. de Clèves, he completely changes. He gives it all up. He no longer had mistresses, or acts like a bachelor, he is trying to win the heart of Mme. de Clèves. She has power and influence over these men’s actions as both wish to please her. Lafayette gives another example of a woman having power over a man in the form of the King and his mistress, Mme de Valentinois. During the king’s reign, Mme de Valentinois was “the absolute mistress of everything”. This woman was a counselor to the king for his entire reign. She had power over everything he did. These examples in both texts show that women could have power, although it often had to do with their looks and the attractions of men, they could use their power to have influence in their lover’s