St Eufrosine’s Invitation to Gender Transgression
In the Old French Vie de sainte Eufrosine (c. 1200), gender transgression is central to the poet’s pedagogical techniques. The fusion of masculine and feminine elements in Panuze’s lamentations and in the roles he assumes demonstrates the depth of his virtuous love for his daughter. The poet imitates Panuze, both showing the audience how to cultivate virtuous love and involving them in the transgression of gender to do so. Throughout, the poem presents masculine and feminine traits as equal. Eufrosine’s transgressive models offer modern readers the opportunity to rethink medieval orthodoxy and, consequently, the history behind modern identities and inequities.