This book explores the social roles of women as portrayed within the book of Proverbs, as well as the character archetypes and patriarchal ideologies which undergird the sages' portrayal. Using feminist folklore methodologies and performance studies, the author explores an alternative paradigm for understanding women's relationship to wisdom traditions in the ancient near east, using parallel texts, later midrash and extrabiblical re-presentations of biblical women associated with wisdom. The author demonstrates that women were culturally authorized 'performers' of the family based wisdom traditions of teaching, economic problem solving, and care giving, and that these roles provided them with a platform to use their acknowledged wisdom in public roles.

About the Author
Carole Fontaine is Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Massachusetts.


Book Information
ISBN 9780567243157
Author Carole Fontaine
Format Paperback
Page Count 310
Imprint Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC