Imagining Esther in Early Modern France
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 16612027 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nicole Hochner (0000-0002-5463-1313, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 757-787 |
| Publication date | 2010-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sixteenth Century Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0361-0160 • E-ISSN: 2326-0726 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/scj40997349 |
| OpenAlex | W2244500909 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 2 |
This study argues that the characterization of the biblical heroine Esther was instrumental in early modern France in challenging and renegotiating the monarchical institution. Literary and visual representations of Esther suggest that the queens involvement is critical in ensuring justice and peace in the realm as she successfully turns Ahasuerus into a genuine king able to listen, share, and free his people from oppression and tyranny. Despite her apparent humility and obedience, Esther provides a further argument in favor of a constitutional and moderate monarchy in which the queens duty is to intercede to prevent abuses of power. It is argued that this reading of Esther was supportive of the political ambition of Anne of Brittany. The emergence of the character of Esther explains the general political debate over limits of royal authority and the reformation of the female court, mostly undertaken by the influential Queen Anne of Brittany
Art · European Political History Analysis · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Reformation and Early Modern Christianity
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,4 |
| Citation span | 2021 - 2024 (4) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |