The Songs from Beuern by Carmina Burana - Term Paper Example

The “Songs from Beuern,” also known as Carmina Burana, were one of the most popular Medieval songs and poems during this specific time frame. A song which is known in this particular work is the love song that was known through this time frame. The medieval lyrics which are associated with the song are based on the ideology of losing in life and the tribulations which occur. This is followed by a chorus which states that “Love conquers all.” This association is based on the love of a woman first, then leads to love that are from the gods and which is associated with love in the family. The expressions of different forms of love are all attributed to how this is able to conquer everything else that is outside of the regular difficulties within life. The category of the song is one which belongs as a love song, specifically because of the sentiment which is offered. This is combined with the understanding of Portuguese literature and the values which were held within the poetry. When reading this poem, it can be seen that the values were based on sentiments of love and the ideologies of loving on several different levels. More important, it shows that this specific culture had ideas and sentiments which were related to Romanticism, as opposed to the practical ideologies of life which were present in other areas. The Romanticism was able to drive forward several pieces of literature as well as the approach which many took in personal values and with the society. Other concepts of Romanticism in the literature could also be seen, specifically with this love song being one of the attributes that showed the intensity of emotions that were present during this time. 2. The characters that are in Vicente’s play are used to describe the differences between heaven and hell as well as the judgment which is associated with each of those who come against the angels and devils after they die. An example of this is the Queen that is seen throughout the play. The difference between the Queen and other characters is from her appearance both at the beginning and the end as well as the justifications which she gives for her time after dying. The associations which she has and the dialogue which is created before the devil and angel show the concept of judgment and also reveal how the Queen judges herself for her experience after death. The first time that the Queen speaks is when she is approached by the narrator Vincente, who states “My Queen, your death will not be insignificant. Death is the doorway to truth” (Vincente, 21). This specific concept is one that shows that the Queen will have a specific judgment to herself that shows the truth of what type of royalty she is. This particular saying is also important because it shows how the judgment and the truth will be revealed after her death in terms of the political changes which the Queen made, social and cultural alterations and the justifications which she made in life. The main ideology which Vincente suggests is that the death of every individual leads to the truth not only by their own reflection of the spirit. There is also a reflection from society about the good and bad deeds which an individual has committed while living in that life time. The assumptions which are made with the Queen are furthered with the agreement which is made between the Queen and Vincente. The decision to bring a set of individuals to the court the next morning is one which is believed to be reflective of not only the individuals but also their decisions which have led them into hell or heaven. Vincente states that he will bring the devil himself and an angel, specifically to play a game in the court that shows the truth of the Queen. This becomes apparent because of the statement by one of the Noblemen. “A health to her Majesty, Dona Maria, and to the Portugal that she has made great in her image. Long may we prosper together” (Vincente, 19). The belief that they have then creates a question when the individuals come in and play out a different role that is reflective of the Queen and what she has created. The importance of the Queen is not only significant because of the initial decision and how this is reflective of the Portugal which she has created. Vincente is able to show how the judgment of the Queen is one that is both good and bad and has changed the Portugal that is known in both ways. The Queen becomes the metaphor of how an individual to a country function in the same way and both become reflective of each other. It also shows that the honor which is given because of the beliefs of politicians are untrue and are only based on an illusion that doesn’t show the reality of what the politicians do to others. By the end, this changes the character of the Queen because of her noted reflection of the others and the suffering that she has caused. “Lord, highest Lord, I beg you / do not remember my sins / in final judgment, / when you destroy the world / in your fury of fire. / Bring me to you now, / by the right path” (Vincente, 79). This quote from the Queen shows how the judgment and the concept of the truth has altered from the beliefs of the nation to the realities of what has been caused in Portugal. The character of the Queen in “The Boat Plays” is significant because it emphasizes the main point that Vincente conveys. This is inclusive of personal judgment and judgment that leads to the truth from the social and cultural aspects. This is combined with the message that Vincente brings about the creation of politics and how sins and corruption lead to the harm of others. The Queen is able to become a main reflection in the good and bad of others while her political role is one which is a statement of how others act within the country and as a part of the responses from the actions of the Queen. The Queen is able to prove the main point of Vincente of how no one knows the truth and how the final judgment is the only determination of what one has done in terms of both good and bad actions. 3. b. The concept of mythology and religion in “The Lusiads” is the driving part of the philosophy. These are included in the poem and are integrated to show that the myth of what one believes is what leads to their overall actions and responses in given situations. The basis of the myth comes from the ideologies of the Lusus as a people that are predestined to do great things and which are destined by fate to do so. This sets the tone of the Lusus people and what roles they decide to take when in given situations. The actions that are in each cantos are based on the need to follow through with the fate and myth and to establish a great kingdom because the myth is that this is the destiny of the people. The concept of myth and religion that is in “The Lusiads” starts with the introduction of the Lusus people and their designation. This is combined with two aspects, one which is based on the myth of where the people come from and the other which is based on the Christian religion. The beginning states “Such as drew on more than human prowess / Among far distant peoples, to proclaim / A New Age and win undying fame; / Kings likewise of glorious memory / Who magnified Christ and Empire” (Camoes, 3). This statement shows how the concept of the New Age and the myth of the people bringing in new ideologies were important. This is combined with the magnification of Christian religion, which this myth shows as conquering other lands and leading into immortality (3). The main ideology is to create a myth that is stronger than the religion and to create an epic that is based on the fate of a higher glory that is outside of this age. The conflict of myth and religion continues throughout the story as a way to emphasize the battle, epic and the concept of the myth. The approach which the author takes is to show how those of Portugal battled, became heroes and were remembered for bringing in different insight into the land. The war is one which the author bases on those who created immortality in the land as well as how the heroes were able to overcome this in the epic. It is this basic mythology that continues to move through each of the battles while emphasizing and explaining the Lusus and what happened in the land. The conflict of mythology and religion and the battle over which is good and evil then becomes a main attribute in the poem. For instance, in explaining the winning of a war, the poem states “Some went away blaspheming, cursing / Whoever was first to invent war;… Triumphant Joao remained in the field / The customary days with great glory; / and afterwards made pilgrimages / To Honor Him who gave the victory” (Camoes, 86). The integration of religion and myth is similar at this point. From one point, it shows the curses of those who lost the battle and how this caused a loss of morality and belief in God and religion. From the other perspective, those who won the battle worshiped and went on pilgrimages to the places which allowed for the victory. The role of myth and religion is then able to integrate into the victories and the losses where one becomes good and the other leads to the truth of immortality. The concepts of mythology and religion in “The Lusiads” are one which defines the story and drives forward the plot. This first takes place with the description of the men from Portugal and the myth of their great destiny. The concept of religion and myth continues with the integration of both in the battle which is fought. The loss of battle is also the loss of religion that is false, while those that win are able to carry forward the myth and the true religion that is a part of the victory. By doing this, there is the ability to create a different understanding from those in Portugal about the true religion and the others which lost the battles that were a part of Portugal at the time. 4. The story of “The Letters from a Portuguese Nun” are related not only to the ideologies of being a nun and being religious at a specific time frame. More important, there are attributes which are associated with the historical and social context of the time. This is inclusive of the beliefs that were a part of Portugal at the time and how these were reflected in the different pieces of literature that were a part of the time frame. The letters become a reflection of the beliefs in the culture and the associations which were created in terms of the accepted actions during this time frame in Portugal. The main aspect that is taken with the Portuguese nun is from the context of the letters. This shows a feminist attribute that moves outside of the religious beliefs and the expectations of the nun. The nun freely admits that she has an affair with a man who then betrays and leaves her. However, she then admits to the natural feelings for the man which move outside of the religious expectations for a nun. “My only wish in the world is to see you again. Do you sometimes think of me? I could be content if I felt I would remain in your thoughts but I dare not be sure even of that” (24). The association with feminism is one which shows that the nun struggles with the right to love a man and how the man is naturally able to betray a woman. The controversy which is created through the letters then becomes the main controversy from the beginning. This questions the placement of women as well as what their natural rights should be. The second context which is taken is based on the historical components that are displayed throughout the letters. As the letters continue, it is found that the nun’s lover has been forced to leave because of the war. “I have just learned from your lieutenant that, on leaving Portugal, a storm forced you to put back a port of the Algrave. I fear you have suffered a great deal on the voyage” (31). While the historical components are secondary, there is also an understanding that Portugal is at war and is trying to win the war through any means possible. The belief of the nun in the beginning that her lover has left without notice also indicates that the war is an act of desperation and is in response to other attacks that are occurring. The references continue with how the man is designated to serve the King and how there are certain approaches which could have been taken during this time. These all reference the historical undertone of the time and the placement which each individual had. The social aspects of the letter are also important, specifically because it places each individual into a specific status. The social status which is defined is mentioned as having specific lines between individuals. This is divided first among men who hold a specific regard, such as supporting a king, working in the army or being a laborer. This is furthered with the women who belong to specific social strata. This is exemplified by the nun mentioning that she doesn’t belong to this strata and this is why her lover won’t write back to her. She goes on to describe the women of another status that she finds repulsive, but which is socially acceptable. “Certainly it cannot be entirely pleasant for a man to see the woman he loves being constantly claimed by a thousand petty details. He must be insensitive and superficial who can endure without giving way to frustrations her continual talking of shops and gowns, of parties and other banalities….Women in that strata must observe the social graces and amenities of propriety” (68). This highlights the social differences between the women of specific strata, mostly which are social and interested in money, as well as the men which are a part of this same ideology. The nun separates herself from this and also exemplifies the differences and boundaries that are associated with society, as well as how this leads to assumptions which aren’t true and causes two individuals to be torn apart. The approach from the nun and the Portuguese letters is one which shows the ideologies of history, social values and the values of women. While the association is based on a series of love letters the nun also shows how the external environment and the expectations which arise have created differences in society. When reading these letters, one is able to understand the complexity of wars in Portugal, the separation of social status and questions of feminism which were a part of the time. Works Cited Camoes, Luis. The Lusiads. Oxford University Press: New York, 1997. Guilleragues, Gabriel. The Portugese Letters: Love Letters of a Nun to a French Officer. Bennett Edwards: New York, 1993. Vincente, Gil. The Boat Plays. Absolute Classics: New York, 1994. Read More