In the Middle Ages, a woman was a worthy wife, chivalry governed behaviors, and romance was used to trace adventures. According to the Middle Ages 1066-1485 by David Adams Leeming, a woman was always subservient to a man. However, chivalry contained specific rules which honored women, and romance literature often contained stories which undertook quests to conquer evil enemies or involved situations where a woman needed to be saved. These were very important and actually distinguished the Middle Ages from other times.
Women were often seemed as servants to the opposite sex, usually to a father, brother, or husband. They had no political rights, and did not have the authority to make any political choices since the political system was primarily military. The respect of a woman was highly demanded when it came to her husband’s or father’s social standing. A peasant woman’s life seemed never ending as a result of the things they had to do. Along with bearing children, they also had a ceaseless amount of house work and hard fieldwork on their agenda which had to be done every day. Women of higher statuses were also occupied with childbearing and housework. While the husbands are away on business or at war, the women have to monitor the state of the house and the family, but they have to give up their temporary power the minute their husbands returned home.In an anonymous quote made in the 15th century, the writer stated, ‘A woman is a worthy wight: She serveth a man both daye and nyght; Thereto she putteth all her might, And yet she hathe but care and woe’.
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... British occupation, in street demonstrations, political organising and morale boosting. Upper and middle class women continued to wear the veil, ... or decorative appendages to their husbands took over'.Upper and many middle class Egyptian women followed western fashion often buying ... been common to virtually all societies throughout the ages and women have been trying to change the hierarchical ...
The behaviors of knights and gentlewomen were governed by a system of ideals and social codes known as the chivalry. Chivalry contained rules which involved taking an oath of loyalty to the overlord. Rules of warfare were also to be observed by the people, and in addition to this, self-improvement was shown whenever a particular lady was being adored. Under the chivalry was a concept known as courtly love, which was nonsexual. In a battle, a knight might wear his lady’s colors to show respect for her. He might also speak highly and be inspired by her, but the woman would always remain pure and far away. Both chivalry and courtly love sees the female image as a precious gem, which should be admired and respected at any and every means necessary.
Another importance of the Middle Ages was romance. This was a new form of literature which rose from chivalry. It also valued women and traced adventures of brave knights or other heroes. Although romance was a thing of the past, it has influenced a lot of the works presented today. In this present time, a story that includes romance presents a world that is happier, more perfect, or more heroic than the real world. Usually, the characters in romances ‘live happily ever after’ in a world where good always conquers evil.
The Middle Ages seemed like a very interesting time period filled with ideas and activities that valued women in some sort of way. Chivalry and courtly love admired a woman in most cases even though she did not have certain advantages as men did. Romance literature was used to write stories which spoke about a brave knight or other heroes taking interesting journeys and evil being conquered. These three and many others showed the difference between the Middle Ages from other times and gives a good example of what it was like.
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Arthurian Romances The Middle Ages of Europe were governed by a system which is referred to as feudalist. The people of this system flow together well; society in these times require noble people to set the example for the younger. The ranks of the noble include counts, lords, knights, kings, queens, etc. These noblemen can be compared to as dueling politicians; they watch over their communities, ...
