Christine de Pizan

Christine de Pizan is the author of "The Book of the City of Ladies," as well as the primary narrator. She is a successful scholar and a writer. Christine is upset by the accusations that male authors make against women and mourns being a woman, even questioning God for making such a vile creature. Three ladies, Reason, Rectitude and Justice, approach Christine and tell her that, with their help, she will build a City of Ladies to honor virtuous and wise ladies throughout time. Christine configures this allegorical city by compiling the stories that the three ladies tell her about historical and mythological ladies of renown throughout the ages.

Christine's presence unites the various examples of women's virtues as she asks questions which lead to Reason, Rectitude and Justice telling the stories about the many women they praise. Her character willingly appears more ignorant than the...