How Plutarch’s moral education shapes gender identities
The full extent of Plutarch’s moral educational program remains largely understudied, at least in those aspects pertaining to women and the gendered other. As a result, scholarship on his views on women have differed significantly in their conclusions, with some scholars suggesting that he is overwhelmingly positive towards women and marriage and perhaps even a “precursor to feminism,” and others arguing that he was rather negative on the issue.
Like a Captive Bird: Gender and Virtue in Plutarch is an examination of these educational methods employed in Plutarch’s work to regulate the expression of gender identity in women and men. In six chapters, author Lunette Warren analyzes Plutarch’s ideas about women and gender in
Moralia and
Lives. The book examines the divergences between real and ideal, the aims and methods of moral philosophy and psychagogic practice as they relate to identity formation, and Plutarch’s theoretical philosophy and metaphysics.
Warren argues that gender is a flexible mode of being that expresses a relation between body and soul, and that gender and virtue are inextricably entwined. Plutarch’s expression of gender is also an expression of a moral condition that signifies relationships of power, Warren claims, especially power relationships between the husband and wife. Uncovered in these texts is evidence of a redistribution of power, which allows some women to dominate other women and, in rare cases, men too. Like a Captive Bird offers a unique and fresh interpretation of Plutarch’s metaphysics which centers gender as one of the organizational principles of nature. It is aimed at scholars of Plutarch, ancient philosophy, and ancient gender studies, especially those who are interested in feminist studies of antiquity.
Reviews
"[Warren] should be commended for the ambition and comprehensiveness of this monograph, which has surely moved the conversation concerning Plutarch’s views on women away from trite "feminist or not" critiques. Instead, the complexity, coherence and consistency of Plutarch’s attitudes towards gender and virtue are fully revealed by [Warren’s] careful philology and impressive synthesis of ancient philosophy and modern theory."
– The Classical Review
"Warren strikes a fine balance between engaging with the state of recent Plutarch studies, specific textual examples, and larger scale conclusions on Plutarch’s view of gender and ethics, most poignantly in his philosophical works."
– Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"In Like a Captive Bird, Warren combines academic and personal interests in Plutarch in fascinating ways and offers a valuable synthesis of Plutarch’s views on gender and virtue, furthering this important conversation."
– Lien Van Geel, Columbia University
About the author
Lunette Warren is a writer, educator, independent scholar, and historian of ancient philosophy and culture.