Now I have been thinking over some comments made in class on Friday and have come to the same conclusion I did then. Prudence is a feminist. Yes she forgoes her "motherly" role and chooses reason to sort out her husband's grief and issues with vengeance and revenge. And she irritatingly quotes learned men (though Melibeus does this as well but it seemed not to bother anyone as much) and does not have a real though of her own.
This is where I take issue. Do we not like Prudence because she does not play into what we believe to be the traditional role? Is it because she chooses to act upon reason rather than passion like a man? Why is it that we blame Prudence for the neglect of her child but not Melibeus?
I think it is interesting that when women do not fall into the completely traditional and stereotypical role there is something that leaves a bad taste in people's mouths...but why? Why can't a woman quote learned men? Is it so bad that she herself is obviously well-read? Or do we insist on saying that these quotes are used by Prudence because she cannot think for herself?
I know it seems a litle rant-y but I believe if it was Melibeus who was trying to calm Prudence with reason and he forgot all about Sophia then we would have had a completely different discussion on our hands.
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