Les figures féminines dans Le Miroir de Mort de George Chastelain

The woman in Le Miroir de Mort by George Chastelain Summary: This article offers an analysis of the feminine figures in Le Miroir de Mort by Georges Chastelain, a fifteenth-century poet and historian, considered one of the greatest authors of his time. His poetic production, in the tradition of the Great Rhetoricians, remains essential in the context of the moralistic and eschatological literature of the time. Le Miroir de Mort, an emblematic example of moralizing literature, is part of the tradition of the speculum, a didactic genre developed from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, which invites the reader to reflect on the human condition, virtue, death, social and religious duties, the vanity of earthly pleasures, and above all the preparation for the afterlife. The feminine figures that punctuate the text reveal multiple symbolisms that enrich the eschatological scope of the work. From the courtly lady to the Virgin Mary, these few figures embody various aspects of femininity, ranging from earthly love to divine intercession, and illustrate the vision of mortality and salvation. Among these figures, the Virgin Mary occupies a central place as a symbol of intercession and divine mercy. Keywords: George Chastelain, Le Miroir de Mort, Virgin Mary, feminine figure, moralizing literature, Grands Rhétoriqueurs