# Humility and Intellectual Vocation in Plays

> Theme guide for Plays by Roswitha of Gandersheim.

The author's prefaces and epistles emphasize her own humility as a woman and a scholar, while defending her right to write and learn, weaving 'threads and scraps torn from the old mantle of philosophy' into her work for God's glory.

## Where it surfaces

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/dedication): Roswitha repeatedly emphasizes her own ignorance and unworthiness, framing her writing as an act of obedience rather than ambition.
- [Preface to the Plays of Hrotswitha, German Religious and Virgin of the Saxon Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/preface-to-the-plays-of-hrotswitha-german-religious-and-virgin-of-the-saxon-race): She humbly acknowledges her talent is inferior to ancient scholars, yet dedicates her work to God, balancing intellectual ambition with Christian humility.
- [Epistle of the Same to the Learned Patrons of This Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/epistle-of-the-same-to-the-learned-patrons-of-this-book): Hrotswitha repeatedly emphasizes her humility, calling herself a 'poor humble sinner' and an 'obscure woman,' while also asserting her God-given ability to learn and write.
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-i): Ephrem counsels Abraham to teach Mary to despise temporal things and fix her mind on heaven, reflecting the monastic ideal of humble devotion.
- [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-ii): Mary's humble acceptance of instruction and the plan for her education in the psalter and divine law highlight the value of learning in a religious context.
- [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-iii): Abraham's willingness to humble himself by adopting a worldly disguise and relaxing monastic rules for the sake of saving a soul exemplifies humble service.
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-i): Paphnutius defends the pursuit of knowledge as a means to praise God, while warning against pride, and humbly calls himself an ignorant man.
- [Scene IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-ix): Paphnutius humbly acknowledges his own inability to know God's will and turns to a brother for guidance, reflecting intellectual humility.
- [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/chapters/scene-iii): Sapientia uses arithmetic to demonstrate divine wisdom, turning a question about ages into a theological lesson.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/themes/humility_and_intellectual_vocation
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_se/themes