Zásluhy žen – Fonta Moderanta (2008)

The discussion "The Merits of Women" was completed by the author in 1592, shortly before her death, and was first published in print in 1600. It bears a subtitle that promises to demonstrate about women, "how honorable they are and how they are superior to men," and in the form of a dialogue, it essentially deals with the concept of love and the age-old problem of relationships between men and women. Seven noble Venetian women of various ages and life experiences gather in the home of one of them, the young widow Leonora, to talk about all possible aspects of their lives, both theoretically and based on specific experiences. The main theme of their conversations is the hostility of men towards women. The entire dialogue is stylized as a witty courtroom drama, with women taking on the roles of prosecutor, defender, and judge, while the accused are men. Moderata Fonte seeks to prove that women possess the same innate abilities as men and, given the same education and upbringing, can even demonstrate their superiority. This explicitly expressed desire for equality is quite original in the context of Renaissance literature. For today's reader, the book is also a valuable testimony about the Renaissance woman from noble circles, revealing both her social role and her private life with an emphasis on...