How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Page)
Quote #4
And all the time her maidservant left her alone and prepared the company's food and washed their clothes, and to her mistress, whom she had promised to serve, she would in no way attend. (I.27.102)
We now have productive language to talk about the social behavior that Kempe is subjected to on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem: it's called bullying. Once she has annoyed her comrades with her constant weeping, Kempe becomes the target for their hatred and petty behavior. In this case, she has to make the difficult sea journey without the help of a maidservant.
Quote #5
When it was time to make their beds they locked up her bedclothes, and a priest who was in her party took a sheet away from this creature, and said it was his. (I.28.103)
This is the equivalent of stealing a favorite possession from a little sibling or shorter classmate and holding it over his or her head. Kempe's companions on the trip to Jerusalem know that Kempe's differences and powerlessness can be exploited—and they take full advantage of it.
Quote #6
Then she suffered shame and abuse for wearing her white clothes, and because she cried so loud when our Lord put her in mind of his Passion. (I.44.142)
Why would Kempe be shamed by wearing white clothes? Take a look here to see the kinds of things that women in Kempe's time wore, and you'll see why. Kempe stuck out like a sore thumb, like a kid with a "Kick Me" sign on her back. It's a little hard to understand why God tells Kempe that he loves her more when people abuse her. But remember that we're working with a belief system that privileges suffering for the sake of God, as well as the ability to forgive.