Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie is a masterpiece biography of one of the greatest women in history, Catherine II of Russia. Named one of the best books of The New York Times, this book portrayed an incredible story of a German princess who settled in Russia and her remarkable steps toward the Russian throne. After ascending to power, Catherine ruled Russia for 34 years. She brought enlightenment to Russia, defeated the domestic rebellion, expanded Russia’s land greatly, and transformed Russia into one of the most powerful countries in the world. This biography expresses her legend through carefully depicted details and vivid flesh and bone portrayal.

Behind all her splendid accomplishments, I was very inspired by her tenacity in the face of the judgments and unfair treatments towards female rulers she encountered at the time. To hold the throne, Catherine had to be more fearless than males and only show strength to her subjects because weakness can easily end her right to rule as a woman. Although Catherine was a very determined person, she still encountered much mistreatment due to her identity as a female. Catherine had a misfortunes marriage; her husband Peter neglected her and put the pressure of producing an heir all on Catherine. This was devastating to Catherine because a woman who can’t produce a male heir will lose her position in the palace for being “unable to complete her mission.” Even after Catherine seized power from her childish husband, she was still confined by the gaze of patriarchy. Catherine’s love life was demonized; while she did have quite a few lovers, she was never a sexual deviant. Such mistreatments Catherine faced reveal women’s low position in family, politics, and love during her time. Catherine’s demonized love life also shows that women were unable to express their sexuality and were seen as unnatural if they did things that men did (i.e. have extramarital affairs). This unfair discrimination against females was also expressed by Queen Elizabeth I of England, who portrayed herself as “pure” to fit societal expectations towards women as a method to legitimize her rule.


Like Elizabeth I, Catherine clearly understood her disadvantage as a female ruler in the 18th century patriarchal world. Thus, she used all resources and methods possible to legitimize her reign. Before Catherine took the throne from her husband, she thought herself to be “more Russian than the Russian”. She improved herself through reading when Peter neglected her in their marriage. Thus, when Peter, who was childish and had no loyalty to Russia , inherited the throne, Catherine promoted herself as a better ruler regardless of her gender, bloodline, or birthplace. After Catherine took the throne, she continued to take measures to legitimize her reign. She secured her position through building deep relationships with the Russian aristocracy. Like the CEO of a modern company, Catherine needed the support of the aristocracy were like board members with the power to impeach her with a majority vote. In response to this culture, Catherine ordered several laws that benefited the aristocratic population, but also set the foundation for the peasant revolts later . There was always an obsession with gaining more land as a land-based empire. Rulers who have the ability to expand Russian territory received much respect. Thus, to strengthen her legitimacy, Catherine significantly expanding Russia territories southwards and westwards. She did it through establishing a tremendously strong army and keeping a consecration relationship with the military officers.

Catherine the Great was obsessed with arts—all literature and plays. She founded the Hermitage Museum, and most importantly, brought Enlightenment to Russia. She also saved many people by introduced the smallpox vaccine to Russia. Catherine legitimized her rule through spreading her knowledges and ideas to her subject, while making people worship her wise and idolize her. By exploiting all her possible resource, Catherine made herself one of most important people in
Russian history and was titled “The Great” for her legendary achievements. Only one other monarch, Peter I, was titled “The Great,” showing the tremendous impact she had while revealing that women can rule as well as men could.

Catherine the Great used her ambitions and determination to claim the throne for her own. But sadly, there are so many talented women throughout history that had to rule in the background and carrying out their efforts in the dark. Women were seen as caretakers who are dependent and too emotional to make decisions in the past, despite so many great women who ruled as regents for their son, or as helpers for their less capable husbands. Catherine’s huge peasant rebellion exemplifies this sexist view on women. Part of the reason this rebellion became so big because the head of the rebels claimed himself as Catherine’s husband and is thus more eligible to rule than Catherine is because he is male. Such events also make me think about what marriage means to these powerful women? Overall, these marriages pushed these women away from the center of power and drained their ambitions . But there was one Queen who let marriage to do her goods. Queen Elizabeth, she never married, but she used her own marriage as a leverage to maintain peace throughout different countries. She also gave ambiguous answer with a sense of hope to her suitors as a method of diplomacy since no king of other countries will harm his future Queen or wife.

Last but not least, this biography of Catherine the great closely depicted this legendary women’s life and brought all readers to thoughts . Through all the detailed pieces of her life, we can see how hard it was for a female to stand out in the past, and how meaningful it was to have females like Catherine the Great hold power and pave a path for all females after her. Through her exemplar model, the path for gender equality was broadened. Finally, beyond all of her great achievements, her determination, bravery, and ambition are also inspiring lights that guide us.