Mary Magdalene : penitent or sinner : feminist perspectives

Abstract

Mary Magdalene was one of the women who followed Jesus. He specially chose her to spread the Good News of his Resurrection. Yet, Mary Magdalene's character as a disciple, has been altered in such a way as to create, an entirely different persona. As a consequence her figure assumed different roles in different times. In the following dissertation, I have tried to find out the way in which this has happened. I have divided my work into five parts. My central concern in the first part, is to give a picture of Mary Magdalene as it has been presented to us by the four evangelists. In the second part my main interest was Mary Magdalene in the post-Resurrection years. This part also includes a reading of the Gospel attributed to Mary. The third part tackles the legendary and cultural portrayals that have been presented and the last two chapters give some contemporary theological conclusions, especially from a feminist perspective.