Blog Assignment: The Women Troubadours

Question B

As Meg Bogin suggests in her novel, “throughout the Middle Ages women were the pawns of men” (10).  In regards to the order of structure in the Middle Ages, women were at the bottom of the chain.  Marriage played a large part in the solidifying of this repressive structure.  Generally, among the aristocracy, women had no say in choosing their partner as their husband was often chosen at infancy (24).  For those of the lower class, marriage was equally as grim.  Their marriage was strictly controlled by their guardian and often highly taxed (25).  Yet, “the worst expression of the peasant woman’s exploitation was the ius primae noctis, the lord’s right to his serf’s bride on her wedding night” (25).  Bogin suggests that a woman’s sole purpose in the Middle Ages was to breed sons and if she did not, she was repudiated (10-11).

Although the female role has certainly changed since the Middle Ages, two major factors that still exists for women in the modern society are marriage and child bearing.  Though marriages are not typically arranged at birth in the modern world, the male still typically asks the father for permission.  Also in accordance to modern marriage traditions, the mother and father of the bride pay a significant amount of the wedding expenses.  Still today there is a stigma against women who choose not to marry, not to have children, or remain divorced.  Though much of the economic marriage arrangements and brutal treatment towards wives-to-be have dissipated, many of the women today are still controlled by marriage or by children.  Women today are still expected to marry and have children.  They are then expected to stay home with the children.  If they do not abided by these social expectations, then they are viewed diverting from the social norm.

My favorite poem from this section Maria de Venadorn’s poem on page 98 - 101. I preferred this poem because it wittily questioned aspects of courtly love and romance.  It also describes some of the ironies and faults of courtly love, like giving a lover everything he desires but acting with common sense (101).  This is a failure in courtly love because a person cannot know where the line is once romance has entered into the equation.  Like many of the romances, a lover is conflicted about what he should do once a person has asked for too much.  Should he or she continually do what the lover has asked to prove their love?  Or should the person put a stop to it knowing their is a higher moral obligation?  

The Song of Roland

The Song of Roland - Question B

Although The Song of Roland was probably popular among the Crusaders for many reasons, the poem could have also taught a lesson in conduct. Roland, a count fighting for King Charles, is representative of the all powerful, idealized fighter. Yet he is not without serious flaw: pride. Upon being betrayed and attacked by the Sarrazins, Oliver, his friend and comrade, pleads with him to blow the horn which will summon the King and his troops. Yet Rolland wishes to sacrifice himself and his comrades, and decides to fight without the kings help: 

A fool I should be found;

In France the Douce would perish my renown.

With Durendal I’ll lay on thick and stout,

In blood the blade, to its golden hilt, I’ll drown.

Felon pagans to th’ pass shall not come down;

I pledge you now, to death they all are bound. (ll 1053-8)

Though much of what Roland is proclaiming can be perceived as individual bravery, his pride to not be made a fool for asking for help is what leads him to his death and downfall.  Rolland cannot see past his own fear of asking for help and leads his men into battle. He believes that he and his men will have victory even though the odds are against them (ll. 1106-9).  It is prideful for him to believe that he can win without the help of his king or God.  By not asking for their help, Roland is revealed to be a man who wishes only to fight to prove his own greatness,

Roland must learn his of pride as he sees all of his deceased comrades and his tries to rid himself of his, “Good Durendal, unlucky is your plight!/ I’ve need of you no more; spent is my pride!” (ll 2304-5).  Like Roland has learned a lesson from his sin of pride, so too would readers recognize in the telling of this story.  Upon his death, then, he recalls many of his battles but also “He owns his faults” (l. 2383).  Roland has accepted his faults and is able to be forgiven because of that.  Through his own mistake the story reveals the downfall of men who have too much pride to ask for help.  And as the story concludes, this theme is again reiterated when King Charles asks God for help and is rewarded with the victory of battle.