Literary Analysis Essay on Margery Kempe

Introduction

The book of Margery Kempe is based on a well-off-middle-class town's woman that had her life centered in the medieval English particularly the town of King's Lynn. Immediately after giving birth to her son, the protagonist had occasions of nervous breakdown coupled with the sight of the devil around her. She recovered moments after she had a vision of Jesus Christ and it was also at the time that she decided to devote her life to the contemplation and holiness of God. Margery also wants to live a life of celibacy, something which she must convince her husband about. Her success of being devoted to God comes after acquiring 14 children coupled with failures in the brewing business. The failures appear to give her a vision about God's plan in her life. Even though she faces doubts and temptations, particularly sexual temptations, she prays for perseverance with the aim of being guided to her vision. The paper is, therefore, premised on a response to the book or reading Margery Kempe which revolves Biblical transformation, a situation where the frustrations of life may subject a person to a life of devotion and service to God.

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The response to the book, therefore, regards the reading as Biblical and compares the case of the main character with that of many people who receive God's vision in their lives. For example, we are informed that moments after she was born, she experienced a nervous breakdown. She also constantly saw the devil around her, perhaps in her failures like the brewing business to mention but a few. The case reflects the life of any other ordinary person who struggles to make ends meet while also undergoing other health-related complications thus finding no need in continuing with the daily routines of life except to turn to God and become a new leaf. Her spiritual journey is equally not perfect; we see her struggling to reach her vision. There are instances where she gets sexual temptations, but she perseveres with the hope of acquiring God's guidance and ultimately fulfilling her vision.

A case is also given where she makes many pilgrimages which are coupled with numerous challenges. The notable one is the journey to Jerusalem in which she makes a stopover to Rome. During the stopover, she is shunned by most of her fellow travelers but warmly accepted by the poor, a pattern which ends up repeating itself throughout her life. It is also at the time when she gets great visions, a situation which subjects her to a somber mood. She cries and sobs uncontrollably when she thinks of Jesus or her sufferings.

The reading, therefore, depicts the Christian life and beliefs and some of the things that Christians endure in their service to God or quest to receive God's grace and protection. Looking at the life of Margery, it is one which is full of burdens, and she is carrying her burden to God hence the somber mood when she hears of Jesus Christ because it reminds her of her sufferings and temptations.

Conclusion

In summary, the reading of Margery Kempe has, therefore, succeeded in imaging the life of many Christians and some of the situations which they endure in their service to God. The visions represent the hope of Christians while holding to their faith. The reading can thus serve as both a literary material owing to the use of numerous literary styles and also a religious piece that images the journey of most people to Christianity.