Carol Heffernan, "Praying Before the Image of Mary"

Hefferman, Carol F. “Praying Before the Image of Mary: Chaucer’s Prioress’s Tale, VII 502-12”. Chaucer Review. 2004. Vol. 39 Issue 1 pg 103-116.

Carol Hefferman of Rutgers University explores the idea behind praying before an image, specifically images of the Virgin Mary. The article takes two focuses. The first focus is of the image becoming a symbol of piety for the lewd. Hefferman suggests that the luneducated needed symbols and images because of their lack of education, especially in terms of their lack of Latin. The second focus zeroes in on the historical relevance of the image of Mary, especially in context to the location of the tale. As the tale is suggested to be near a great eastern city, it is likely that the controversy of iconoclasm is still strongly influencing the idea of the veneration of images. Hefferman briefly attempts to discuss miracles and the intervention of saints, but winds up reflecting back on piety and martyrdom. In this case, the focus is on the martyred child in the tale and the allusion to Christian sacrifice.

-- Andrés Boyer