Abstract
In historical monastic literature, there are few feminine figures, and the presence of women is sparse. Aside from the cases of women considered as sinners in need of conversion or pious women in search of grace and miracles, the female presence is largely seen as something to be exorcised. In keeping with Athanasius’ Vita S. Antonii, the most common female figure in monastic literature is that of the sister of the ascetic. Jerome in Vita S. Pauli Monachi Thebaei is faithful to this classic canon, but later in his Vita S. Hilarionis and also in Vita S. Malchi monachi captivi he surpasses the dominant genre and dares novelty, rather autobiographically.
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