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Aemilia Lanyer: Redeeming Women Through Faith and Poetry

© Michelle Powell-Smith

This short essay explores some of the possible interpretations for Aemilia Lanyer's Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum.

Lanyer's own religious background has been debated. It has been suggested that she was a converted Jew, largely on the basis of the title of her work. This, however, seems unlikely. Lanyer attributed the title of Salve Deus to a dream she'd had many years before its writing and internal clues in the poem, as well as Lanyer's circle of acquaintances, lend far more certainty to the theory that Lanyer was actually a radical protestant. Susan Bertie, the Countess of Kent, was responsible for Lanyer's education. Bertie had multiple connections to radical protestantism, including a close relationship with Anne Lock, who translated Calvin and Taffin into English.

Lanyer's poem may be related to prophetic writings of the time, thus further supporting the theory that she herself was staunchly protestant. Prophetic writings of the renaissance placed women at the forefront of their apocalyptic visions. The reversal of power present in these works provided Lanyer with a theoretical basis for Salve Deus.

Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum provides a new interpretation and embellishment of scriptural texts. Lanyer was not the first to reinterpret scripture to create a more favorable view of women. It had been done repeatedly by women in defense of their sex during the course of the pamphlet wars concerning women. "Eve's Apology" rewrites the Genesis story, creating Eve as an innocent and placing the final glory of salvation in her hands.

Lanyer also finds/creates the voices of women from the bible whose voices have not been heard, including the wife of Pilate. She places the blame for the crucifixion on men, rather than women, and attributes the eventual salvation of humanity to the goodness of women.

Lanyer's text also provides us with an idea of feminine vs. masculine discourse. Lanyer finds that men are responsible for suffering, and that men, through their reading of biblical texts, blaspheme Christ. Women, on the other hand, find the truth in these texts. It is through woman (Mary) that salvation came, and through the writing of women that faith may be properly understood.

Lanyer's work also celebrates a sort of community of good women, specifically the community that developed around Margaret Clifford, the Countess of Cumberland. Margaret is celebrated as a Christ like figure with the wisdom of Solomon. The redemption of women will come through the actions of the Countess of Cumberland. This community is separate and distinct from male society and Lanyer names herself its poet.

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