What makes a wife strong—and who gets to define her worth?

In The Perfect Wife, Luis de León reads the praise of the capable woman in the Book of Proverbs. Writing for the young bride María Varela Osorio, the Spanish friar and professor sets out his vision of married life: strength, trust, daily work, and faith.

His argument moves from the words of scripture into the household: wool and flax, early mornings, food, and servants’ tasks. He also sets expectations for a wife’s speech and dress. Some assumptions may feel distant or troubling; his thoughts on work, trust, and character invite a closer look.

この本で学べること

• Strength before display Explore why Luis places strength at the heart of his reading of a worthy wife.
• The work behind trust Follow his account of how a wife makes her husband’s confidence well founded.
• A household in motion See wool, flax, food, and careful planning become central to his vision of virtue.
• The limits of an ideal Examine demands for modesty and silence that can sit uneasily with readers today.
• Goodness beyond the home Discover how his commentary connects a wife’s worth with faith and giving to the poor.

どのような方におすすめですか？

ルネサンス期の散文や聖書の注解、家庭と家族の社会史を好み、16世紀の学者が箴言をどう読んだのかに関心のある方に向いています。