Dress up and Undress On the Function of the Public in Two Cross-Dressing Narratives of the 15th Century

Function and power of judgement of premodern public are discussed at the example of two narratives of the 15th century which follow as cross-dressing stories a similar plot: A woman can preserve her life or reputation only by her successful disguising as a man. Nevertheless, the authority of the public is sketched in both stories differently: While in the first case the public is predominantly negatively drawn because it produces misjudgments, in the second case the restoration of 'honour' is a question of publicity. Both texts are examples for a controversial literary debate on the reach and the reliability of the public opinion.