Macho Men and Powerless Women in Arthurian Literature
Sheri L. Bett
ENG403 – Dr. Donna Bussell
May 4, 2012
Final Paper
Macho Men and Powerless Women in Arthurian Literature
Arthurian literature focuses on the valiant and just people and gives great insight into chivalry and what that meant—how people lived by it—in this era. It is about truth and justice, undying love, sacrificing for the King, and bravery and courage whenever honor was at stake. Although these times were dark, and often barbarically bloody, they had clearly defined roles put upon men and women alike. Men were to be both chivalrous and ruthless all in the name of the King. Women held less value but were often used as pawns for men to bargain with and use as they needed without the need for agreement from the woman. Due to these high standards and customs, there were often times that both men and women felt emotionally imprisoned or they were physically imprisoned with no apparent chance of redemption. But in true Arthurian style, the main characters were always given hope that their impossible situation could change in the end. According to The Cambridge Companion to the Arthurian Legend, Arthurian romance literature of this era focused on the binary opposition of the love a man has for a woman and the bond he has to his fellow men—“Arthurian romances focus on the conflict between romantic love and macho fellowship” (13). This fellowship is clearly shown in Chaucer’s, The Knight’s Tale, when the main characters, Palamon and Arcite, are allowed their freedom from the king who imprisoned them for life after they prove their manhood through a series of macho challenges and betrayals in order to win the love of a woman who does not even know they exist. While the men of the Arthurian era were often given a second chance at freedom after proving their chivalry and honor, women were powerless at attaining their freedom, as was the custom of the times, and were treated merely as property of the men.
Arthurian authors followed a specific
ENG403 – Dr. Donna Bussell
May 4, 2012
Final Paper
Macho Men and Powerless Women in Arthurian Literature
Arthurian literature focuses on the valiant and just people and gives great insight into chivalry and what that meant—how people lived by it—in this era. It is about truth and justice, undying love, sacrificing for the King, and bravery and courage whenever honor was at stake. Although these times were dark, and often barbarically bloody, they had clearly defined roles put upon men and women alike. Men were to be both chivalrous and ruthless all in the name of the King. Women held less value but were often used as pawns for men to bargain with and use as they needed without the need for agreement from the woman. Due to these high standards and customs, there were often times that both men and women felt emotionally imprisoned or they were physically imprisoned with no apparent chance of redemption. But in true Arthurian style, the main characters were always given hope that their impossible situation could change in the end. According to The Cambridge Companion to the Arthurian Legend, Arthurian romance literature of this era focused on the binary opposition of the love a man has for a woman and the bond he has to his fellow men—“Arthurian romances focus on the conflict between romantic love and macho fellowship” (13). This fellowship is clearly shown in Chaucer’s, The Knight’s Tale, when the main characters, Palamon and Arcite, are allowed their freedom from the king who imprisoned them for life after they prove their manhood through a series of macho challenges and betrayals in order to win the love of a woman who does not even know they exist. While the men of the Arthurian era were often given a second chance at freedom after proving their chivalry and honor, women were powerless at attaining their freedom, as was the custom of the times, and were treated merely as property of the men.
Arthurian authors followed a specific
Cited: Archibald, Elizabeth and Putter, Ad. The Cambridge Companion to the Arthurian Legend. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. New York: Fine Creative Media, 2007. Keen, Maurice. Chivalry. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005.