Chaucer and the Medieval Times

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Gender roles in the Medieval Times

The gender roles during this time period were very diverse, but the man in the house was really the man, meaning what they say goes and there is no “if, ands or buts” about it. Males in the Arthurian legends represent the practical side of chivalry (they are characters of action) - the females, on the other hand, represented the intellectual side of chivalry (6). Whenever a knight accomplished a great deed, he would return to Camelot to check in with the Queen and the ladies of the court. It was the Queen and her ladies job to either praise the knight for obeying to true spirit of chivalry, or scold him for giving in to the temptations of vanity, pride or greed (7). A knight who defended the helpless or showed mercy to a fallen enemy would be admired upon (7). A knight who was too boastful about his powers or reputation would receive harsh, critical words and could be sent off on a quest to make up for his vanity. In the way females of Arthurian provide much needed balance in the literature of chivalry. The principle role of women was to stay home and care for the children and husband (7). The women were to do her chores around the house, cook, do housework and tend for everything her husband needs, at all times (7). Some women went off to write, go on to nursing, even work alongside the husband (7). Although women received less pay than men, a woman could work several jobs and still not make as much as a man with one job (7). The man was expected to bring in the money to support the family. The husband has control over what the wife wears for clothing; married women wear their hair tied up and covered with cloth (out of respect for the husband), while unmarried women wore their hair down (7).

Religion and beliefs

People believed in Christianity during this time, it was the only belief that was recognized (8). The way people lived and how they lived was controlled by the church. From birth to death, weather a peasant, a serf, a noble a lord or a king- life was controlled by the church (8). This was also the time of the change in Christian churches. Disputes of the crusades led to the split between catholic eastern and western Christian churches. The believes of men such as MLK stimulated a new religion called Protestantism which led to the further split in the Christian church referred to as the protestant reformation (8).

It was expected of people to go to church every day and pray 5 times a day. People believed that all the good things in life were due to the bounty of god and that the evil events of the times were due to their sins (8).

Important events

“The black death also known as the plague, this horrifying plague started in Europe in 1328 and lasted until 1351- although there were still outbreaks for the next 60 years” (9). This disease was called the black death because one of the symptoms is a blackening of the skin around the swellings or buboes. The buboes were red at first but later turn into a dark purple or black. When a victim’s blood was exposed, it came out black, thick and had a vile smell to it. The disease spread by rats or other small rodents. This disease killed about 30%-40% of London’s population; England’s population was estimated at about 5 million people (9). Out of those who were sick, the oldest, youngest and poorest would have died first, the doctors would not waste their time tending for the “unimportant” people (9).

Bibliography

- "Geoffrey Chaucer." Poets.org. Ed. Juan Felipe. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. .

- Durndell, Helen. "UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW." Chaucer's Influences. Special Collections Department, Library, University of Glasgow, Hillhead Street, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/chaucer/influences.html

- "King Arthur." :: The Middle Ages. GNU Health Conference, 02 Nov. 2011. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. .

- Alchin, By Linda. "The Legend of King Arthur." Legend of King Arthur. N.p., June 2014. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. .

- Express, Britain. "Medieval England - Medieval Towns." Britain Express. David Ross, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. .

- Farrell, Scott. "Chivalry Today - Don't Just Talk Chivalry. Live It." Chivalry Today Womens Roles Part 1 Historys Women of Chivalry Comments. @ChivalryToday, 2011. Web. 07 Sept. 2016. .

- Trueman, Chris B. "Medieval Gender Roles." Historylearningsite. History Learning Site, n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2016. .

- Alchin, By Linda. "Medieval Religion." Medieval Religion. By Linda Alchin, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016.

- Newman, Simon. "The Black Death." The Finer Times: War, Crime and History Resource. The History Channel, n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2016.