# Preface to the Plays of Hrotswitha, German Religious and Virgin of the Saxon Race explained — Plays

> Chapter companion for Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

## What happens

Hrotswitha explains her motivation for writing plays in the style of Terence: to replace pagan licentiousness with Christian chastity. She acknowledges the difficulty of depicting sinful passion but argues that it highlights the virtue of those who resist, especially women. She humbly admits her work is inferior to ancient authors but dedicates it to God's glory.

## Themes in this chapter

### Chastity and Virginity

Hrotswitha explicitly states her goal is to glorify the chastity of Christian virgins, contrasting it with the licentiousness of pagan works.

### Humility and Intellectual Vocation

She humbly acknowledges her talent is inferior to ancient scholars, yet dedicates her work to God, balancing intellectual ambition with Christian humility.

## Character check-ins

### Roswitha

The author and narrator, a German religious virgin, who defends her imitation of Terence for Christian purposes.

### Terence

Pagan playwright whose style Hrotswitha imitates, though she condemns the wickedness of his subject matter.

## Key lines

> I, the strong voice of Gandersheim, have not hesitated to imitate in my writings a poet whose works are so widely read, my object being to glorify, within the limits of my poor talent, the laudable chastity of Christian virgins in that selfsame form of composition which has been used to describe the shameless acts of licentious women.

Hrotswitha declares she will use Terence's dramatic style to celebrate Christian virginity, turning a tool of pagan immorality toward holy purposes.

_This passage encapsulates her central mission: redeeming a pagan literary form for Christian edification._

> For the more seductive the blandishments of lovers the more wonderful the divine succour and the greater the merit of those who resist, especially when it is fragile woman who is victorious and strong man who is routed with confusion.

The stronger the temptation, the more impressive the divine help and the virtue of those who resist, particularly when a weak woman triumphs over a powerful man.

_Hrotswitha emphasizes female agency and divine intervention, a recurring theme in her plays._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/chapters/preface-to-the-plays-of-hrotswitha-german-religious-and-virgin-of-the-saxon-race
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plays_se/chapters