The Role of Women in Medieval Brittish Literature - Essay Example

assignment is due It is generally considered that medieval society is unreceptive to the powerof women. The patriarchal norms and standards of the medieval Europe compel women to simultaneously play two different roles. They displayed heroic ideals of masculinity, and at the same time preserved the values of their domestic private sphere. Even in the domestic private field women were found to be putting many efforts to influence the actions of males. We read about several women who were even capable of destructing the heroic ideals of men. Hence there emerged a tendency to limit the power of women. The subversive images of females contradicted with the patriarchal ideology of females. The women characters in the medieval British literature do not get along with the hegemonic ideologies about women. However, their containment is also a topic of interest. Medieval society is accustomed to nothing but wars, violence, struggles and fights. This environment enabled the exercise of female power and female initiatives. The society expected the women folk to confine themselves to the domestic and private world. A perusal along the medieval English writing makes us see several women characters whose activities destroy our preconceived idea about the general nature of medieval women. Women of the medieval times were expected to be submissive to men. However, in the medieval writings we find that instead of living a passive life, women took part in brave ventures along with men. They often attempted to control the courtly behavior of males and dared to fight when required. We find women taking arms in the extreme cases. The medieval British literature presents powerful women who are capable of shaking the heroic ideals of men. The heroic ideals expected repression and feminization of females. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we find this extraordinary portrayal of women. The host’s wife displays great power in the story. She plays a major role in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. She makes the story move as she finally makes Gawain surrender to sin. Gawain is invited to the castle to celebrate the Christmas feast by the host, Bercilak de Hautdesert. There he meets the beautiful wife of the host. Evening we see the host inviting Gawain to chat by fire. Gawain greets Host’s wife with a kiss. Bercilak leaves for the hunt in the morning and Gawain sleeps in his bed in the castle. He is however awakened by the host’s wife. She tries to attract the chivalrous knight. Gawain however did not agree with the advances of the beautiful lady. He refused to be with her without offending her. They just kiss each other and exchange compliments. The second day also the lady again enters the room of Gawain’s chambers and kisses him twice. The third day also lady enters Gawain’s chamber and kisses him Gawain three thrice. She demands a love token, a ring or a glove from him. Gawain, however, refused to yield to her. He refused to take anything from her and also showed his disinterest in giving any love token to her. Here she reveals the secret of her green girdle that she wears. She says that it is a magical with protecting power. The host’s wife tries to seduce Gawain daily when he stayed in the castle. Even though the poem explains her just as a beautiful young woman, she is a clever debater and a smart reader of Gawain’s behavior. We see her arguing her way by trying to seduce him. She is flirtatious and intelligent. Finally she becomes yet another pawn in Morgan le Faye’s plot. The host’s wife cleverly attempts to destroy the chastity of Gawain. She makes careful moves to catch Gawain in her trap. She challenges Gawain’s name and reputation as she attempts to get what she wants. The host’s wife plays a major role in the poem as she finally succeeds in making Gawain fall. Her Green Girdle makes Gawain fall as he failed to tell the whole truth. We see Gawain finally becoming guilty of his sinful nature and deciding to wear the girdle on his arm as a reminder of his own failure. He compares himself to the famous biblical figures that sinned by the deceitful tricks of women. The host’s wife succeeded in making Gawain fall in sin and ultimately looses the battle. She is the key figure in the story. She makes cunning moves and succeeds ultimately. He succeeded in convincing Gawain that the girdle has extraordinary powers. She makes him accept the girdle, which finally made him lose the game. Even though she failed in seducing him and destroying his chastity, she made him finally fall into the foul trap. Gawain himself finally accepts that he fell into the sinful trap of women like the biblical characters Adam and Samson who failed in their life because of women. The power of women made men fall. Medieval literature portrayed women of such authority and power. Geoffrey Chaucer's Wife of Baths presents yet another version of strong women of the medieval period. Wife of Baths is not reluctant to reveal her intentions. She is one of the first feminist characters we find in the medieval British literature. The Wife of Baths exhibits a strong anti-marriage feeling. She is the one of the first female characters of the medieval English literature who displays such a sentiment. The Wife of Baths attempts to defend her practice by following the rule that women should have control over the concept of marriage. She practices her idea through her five marriages. She has mastery in marriage. The Wife of Baths, gap-toothed and red legged has a strong feeling of her own femininity. She is an anti-feminine of the medieval periods. Wife of Baths is outspoken and licentious. She doesn’t want to be under the control of any man. She hates to be directed by any man. She is a sexual human being. She is of the opinion that marriage demolishes the freedom of a woman. The Wife of Baths desires to use her assets in her own lifetime. She doesn’t like to keep herself chaste when her husband is no more. Her strong sexual needs exceed her desire for chastity. Women of the medieval periods were supposed to be chaste. Marie de France in Lanval portrays a female character whose influence and authority defeat the superiority of strong men. The female character is filled with power and authority. The influence of the female character shadows even the glory of King Arthur. In literary works women are portrayed as an object to behold or as something that has an earthly link to God. In the medieval literature, however, women symbolize some kind of superficiality and enticement. Male writers portray women as the cause of man’s downfall. Faustus and Canterbury Tales are examples of such literary works. Such portrayals are not that prevalent in the works of female authors. The portrayal of women in British literature has a feminist touch. The Wife of Baths and other women introduced the very theme of feminism. Their feminist views made them reluctant to submit to the authority of men. Those women exercised great authority and power that made men surrender before them. Medieval literature presents brave women who resemble the women of modern days. Feminist views of those characters match the feminist views of the modern generation. Medieval English literature included several women who displayed extraordinary abilities. A perusal along the medieval English writing makes us see several women characters whose activities destroy our preconceived idea about the general nature of medieval women. Read More