Our book group choice for November 2023 is For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain, by Victoria MacKenzie. MacKenzie’s debut novel is a fictionalized account of the meeting between two extraordinary medieval women: Margery Kempe, a visionary mystic and pilgrim, and Julian of Norwich, an anchoress who lived in a tiny cell for over sixty years.
The novel opens in 1413, when Margery, a devout wife and mother of fourteen, begins to experience visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Her visions are often ecstatic and dramatic, and she soon develops a reputation as a holy woman. However, her outspokenness and unorthodox beliefs also make her a target for suspicion and criticism from the Church hierarchy.
In 1417, Margery is accused of heresy and summoned to appear before the Bishop of Norwich. She is eventually acquitted, but the experience leaves her shaken and isolated. She decides to embark on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, hoping to find spiritual solace and guidance.
Along the way, Margery meets Julian of Norwich, who has been living in a cell attached to the Church of St Julian in Norwich for over twenty years. Julian is also a visionary, and she shares her own experiences with Margery. The two women form a deep bond, and their conversations help Margery to come to terms with her own visions and her place in the world.
The novel follows Margery on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem and back, and it also chronicles Julian’s life in her cell. Both women face challenges and adversity, but they also find joy and strength in their faith.
Themes
- Faith: The novel explores the nature of faith and the different ways in which people experience it. Margery’s faith is passionate and personal, while Julian’s faith is more contemplative and intellectual.
- Femininity: The novel also explores the challenges faced by women in the medieval world. Margery and Julian are both strong and independent women, but they are also constrained by the social and religious norms of their time.
- Spirituality: The novel is a deeply spiritual work that explores the meaning of life, suffering, and death.
Discussion Quesions
- Did you know anything (or find anything out about) the real life Margery and Julian? If so, how did that affect your enjoyment of the book?
- What are your reflections on the differences and similarities between Margery and Julian?
- Compare and contrast how Julian and Margery respond to and seek validation for their visions. What does this reveal about their personalities and the social expectations surrounding them?
- How does the novel challenge traditional gender roles and expectations through the contrasting lives of Julian, confined as an anchoress, and Margery, traveling freely as a pilgrim?
- Discuss the role of faith and mystical experiences in the lives of Julian and Margery. How do their visions shape their understanding of God and their place in the world?
- How does the novel explore the concept of divine love? How do Julian and Margery interpret and express their love for God through their actions and words?
- What role does doubt and questioning play in their spiritual journeys? How do they grapple with the challenges of reconciling their experiences with established religious dogma?
- The book is set in the 15th century. What, if anything, do you think it has to say to today’s reader?
- To what extent do you think it is important to the story that the two main characters are women?
- For anyone who has faith: did the book change your view of your faith? Or, for anyone who doesn’t have faith: did it make you reappraise that in any way?
- Discuss the significance of MacKenzie choosing to fictionalise the historical meeting between Julian and Margery. What does this creative choice say about their possible influence on each other?
- How does the novel contribute to our understanding of women’s religious experiences and contributions during this period? Consider the historical erasure of female voices and how “For Thy Great Pain” attempts to reclaim them.
- How does MacKenzie bring the medieval world to life through sensory details and evocative descriptions? How do these stylistic choices affect our reading experience?
- If you had the opportunity to meet one of these women, who would you choose and why? What questions would you want to ask them?
- To whom would you recommend the book? Why?
Individual Ratings
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