Women In The Heptameron

It cannot be human nature to seek power and abuse it through injuring others. However, it seems to be a pattern among the men in The Heptameron novels and for the women to never have any authentic power as a consequence. The Heptameron was written by the Queen of Navarre, Marguerite d’Angoulême, and it is a likely conclusion that she portrayed these men in critique of their normalized toxic behaviors. Simontault (the orator and unrequited lover of Novel III) argues, “that women know neither love nor regret”(46). His sexist remark highlights the disconnect between reality and the societal perception. Although the women were not perfect in these stories, the cruelty they endure was not warranted. Through all four of the novels, both the male …show more content…
While he believes that this story is showcasing the “collections of misdeeds done by women to men”, it actually reveals the privilege men have within marriages and highlights Simontault’s adverse perspective on women’s roles (14). Although the queen knew her husband was rumored to be cheating with a gentleman's wife while he was away, she also knew “she could not have honor and pleasure” and initially denies the gentleman(16). Despite her unfavorable circumstances, she remains rather calm and reasonable rather than seeking revenge on her cheating husband. Undeniably, this is a double standard because her husband can freely follow his desires without it impacting his reputation. Despite her initial reaction, both of these relationships become tangled and “the cheaters being cheated, four would share the pleasure, which two imagined they had all to themselves”(18). Simontault presents this dynamic as if now that everyone is unfaithful it is more acceptable. This contradicts the implications that women face in their reputations, unless both of these women willingly sacrificed their honor for pleasure. However, the concern for women’s honor seems unlikely considering that Simontault is trying to justify infidelity. After finishing his tale, he adds, “This, ladies...when your husband gives you horns you may do the same by them (19). Again, Simontault neglects that women do not wear horns like the men because they are not the same set of standards. Infidelity is only noteworthy when it’s a woman and that is what gives men their horns. Regardless, this immoral act does not even out if both parties are doing it, and Simontault is only trying to be like the first king in his story that breaks a marriage up. Simontault’s entitlement to share this story as his means of persuasion highlights how disconnected he is