Women and Power in the Grand Siècle: From Ecclesiastical Society to the Literary and Social Sphere

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of women’s authority during the Grand Siècle, spanning the realms of the Church, high society, and philosophy, by providing an overview of some significant female figures. Among ecclesiastical figures, the case of Angélique Arnauld is particularly interesting, as she goes beyond the monastic framework to exercise true spiritual guidance. In the missionary field, Marie Guyard, the first female missionary and “Mother of the Church of Canada,” represents a marginalized yet intellectually clear feminine mystical theology. Meanwhile, women were establishing themselves in the intellectual and societal spheres. Madame Acarie and the “belles amies de Port-Royal” illustrate the transition from spiritual salons to literary salons, where they became arbiters of taste and style. Madame de Maintenon, for her part, marks the link between spirituality and education. Lastly, Gabrielle Suchon, an ex-religious woman who had her vows annulled, stands out as a pioneer of philosophy. In her Traité de la Morale et de la Politique, she advocates for the intellectual freedom of women and critiques their exclusion from knowledge.