Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim, the First Western Woman Playwright
The first plays known to be written by a woman were written by German poet, dramatist, historian and canoness Hrotsvitha, born to a noble family around 935 in Gandersheim. Very little is known about her early life, but we do know she joined the Gandersheim Abbey as a secular canoness: like a nun, but without taking a vow of poverty. She was the first female historian, the first known female playwright, the first female German poet, the first female German writer, and the first female European poet since Sappho.
Hrotsvitha’s plays were not meant to be performed and probably never were. They were meant to be read by members of her community and most likely the Saxon court as well. These plays had one of two themes: a woman who has lost her way and is rescued by a good, God-fearing man, or the martyrdom of Christian women during pagan Roman times. Overall, she wrote six plays in Latin, which were meant to be sanitized, more Christian versions of the Roman playwright Terence’s comedies. The nuns of the Abbey enjoyed the comedy of his plays but were disgusted by the immorality.
Naturally, Hrosvitha’s plays revolved around very common medieval religious values like celibacy and chastity. Still, we can view her works today in a feminist way. Her plays all revolved around women, and she treated them all with the same respect, from the prostitute to the Godliest woman.
It’s no wonder that her name means “Strong Voice.” Hrosvitha only wanted to clean up some plays for the education and entertainment of her fellow Abbey residents. But now, we remember her as the first known female playwright and the sole connection between ancient Roman and Greek classics and the European morality plays from a few centuries later. Over a thousand years later, Hrosvitha’s impact on the theatre world cannot be forgotten. She showed that women have a place in playwriting.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hrosvitha
https://www.thoughtco.com/hrotsvitha-von-gandersheim-3529674