September 17, 1998
Précis
In her spiritual biography, Margery Kempe's frankness and perception into matters of the faith were, and still are, acknowledged characteristics of herself despite some apparent psychological problems. Though Margery demonstrated incredible strength in spite of certain social and spiritual restraints of the time, she still had certain problems that make her reliability as a narrator somewhat questionable. It seems that the more emphasis that is placed on Margery's manipulation of events and dialogues, the less reliable that narrative becomes.
It is the dialogues and the details which Margery records in her Book which seem to be the most infallible in their truth. As Kempe narrates and her scribe records these interactions, the question of Margery's understanding of the conversations arises. It could be possible that Margery merely misinterprets comments directed at her, while the reader may see more into comments than Margery herself does. The internal evidence, such as these conversations and Margery's interpretations and reactions, can be used to evaluate the credibility of the narrative. Such evidence can include details that are immaterial or incompatible with that which Margery seems to want to represent from her own perspective.
Margery seems to seek the validation of authority figures, though that which she may see as approbation of her demeanor may have actually been offered as opportunity for self-examination. The validation of these authority characters sometimes consists of conversations which Margery may misinterpret, though the reader may not. The inclusion of these conversations and Margery's interpretations could be evidence that supports the reliability of the narrator.
Margery also sometimes can misrepresent the comments of others. That which Margery could see as whole-hearted endorsement could actually be seen as sarcasm. Margery fails to record the relevant tone of the speaker in several instances. If Margery records these conversations accurately, she fails to record the tone as a vital part of the understanding of the conversation.
Stories within Margery's narrative provide some confirmation of her reliability. There are inclusions of certain details that are contrary to the personality of herself that Kempe is trying to portray. Contradictory details can be seen as evidence for the credibility of the narrator. Margery would have no other purpose to include these contradictory details other than that she was trying to narrate events and situations exactly as she remembered them happening. Margery's intention was in part to portray herself as a sort of wretched, despised creature, a martyr by her own tears. The inclusion of details that represent Margery in a light other than this wretched soul could only be seen as strong evidence for the reliability of the text.
Reliability of the text is found in these irrelevant details and contradictory statements. It is the intelligence of Margery Kempe that separates her from the subject of the book known as Margery. There should be made a distinction between the subject of the book and the narrator herself. Though the two are embodied in one being, they are quite different.