Saramago’s Maries: on the secondary status of women in the fictional universe of The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

Abstract

This article examines the representation of women—especially Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene—in José Saramago’s The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. The novel highlights how these characters inhabit a deeply patriarchal society governed by religious norms that subordinate and silence women. Mary of Nazareth appears as an ordinary woman confined to traditional roles, whilst Mary Magdalene, marginalised as a prostitute, gains narrative prominence through her compassion, humanity, and transformative relationship with Jesus. Their bond reveals a form of female solidarity rooted in shared suffering and structural exclusion. The study argues that Saramago critiques the religious and social discourses that sustain women’s inferior status, inviting readers to reflect on how such narratives continue to shape contemporary gender inequalities.