Purple
In the first chapter, Margery mentions how she was saved when Christ appeared before her and pulled her out of a time of mental instability. The way Christ is dressed is important because his clothes point towards the idea that he is noble and a king. In the medieval times, purple was seen as a color appropriate only for royalty. They could afford to buy clothes in that color and it was not seen as being unfitting for them to wear such clothes in public. Christ is also clad in purple clothes and his clothes are used here as a symbol for his superiority and noble character.
God is punishing
A common motif found in the book is the idea that God is punishing Margery for her behavior, and the reason why she doesn’t succeed in life is because she is too sinful. This idea is not only a common motif found in the novel but in fact the way people thought in those times. They did not see their failures as being the result of their incompetence but rather something out of their control.
Hair shirt
After atoning for her sins from her past and from her prideful nature, Margery begins to wear every day hair shirts under her normal clothing. The hair shirts were a type of clothing used from biblical times by people who wanted to repent from their sins and to show that they are truly sorry for what they have done. What the shirts did was to create a constant feeling of discomfort and by irritating the skin. Margery uses her hair shirt as a symbol to make reference to the events that marked her past and the events she felt influenced her in a negative way.
White clothes
Before starting her journey to Jerusalem, Margery is instructed to procure for herself white clothes. Kempe is reluctant to accept that since wearing white clothes would only make her more visible and more prone to being ridiculed by those around her. By her white clothes have a symbolic meaning and it represents her spiritual part untouched by sin and unaffected by evil. To make the others around her realize how pure she is and how different she is from them, she must wear different clothes that will differentiate her from the others.
Holy place
Since Kempe changed from her old ways, she dreams of going to Jerusalem in a pilgrimage. Jerusalem was considered in and past as it is still today the epicenter of Christianity and many devotees would travel to Jerusalem and back to prove their devotion and fervor for religion. Kempe is no different since she sees Jerusalem as the place she must visit no matter what because of her, Jerusalem is a symbol for Jesus Christ and her faith in general.
Margery's Tears/Crying
Margery's crying signifies the great love she has for Jesus. She cries when she is overcome by faith or remembers Jesus' sacrifices. This symbolizes pure spirituality at its finest. In addition, the tears are very unpredictable, which Jesus tells her is a good things as it shows dependence on God. However, to others, Margery's tears are a symbol of false faith and of an overemotional woman.
