Analysis Of Bound From Either Side By Rachel Stone

The Courtier, originally written as a “courtesy book”, can now be considered to provide significant insight into the norms and practices associated with courtship and gender during the Renaissance era. The book’s third volume is a particularly insightful window into 16th century romantic ideals. Throughout Book Three, Baldassare Castiglione builds an elaborate perspective on what makes the perfect court lady, what sexual and social behavior is acceptable, and how an ideal couple (both courtier and court lady) should function.

Placebo and Justinus represent not only the two sides of the debate on marriage, but also two kinds of friendly advice. Placebo specifically offers flattery, expressing the view that wise men should not presume to advise their elders and social superiors if they want to get on in life. Both Placebo and Justinus act as the Good and Evil Angels and allegorise the two opinions passing through Januarie’s own mind. However, the Merchant’s reference line 280 to ‘a court-man’ also meaning flatter refers to him not being an adviser but a sycophant, presents a very cynical and critical view of courtiers.

In Genesis 12-50 we read about the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their spouses do come in second in their way of life, as well as in the story found in Genesis. From the years 2,100 to 1,800 BC, ladies are seen as property: first of the fathers, at that point of the spouses (SOURCE). There were laws that ensured ladies at the time, yet still at the end of the day these laws had a man's centric point of view. For instance, rape was considered a wrongdoing against the father, not to the woman, as it denied him of his "bride price" (SOURCE). Marriage was authoritative report exchanging responsibility for lady from the father to the spouse. While these laws appear to be exceptionally sexist to us, a considerable lot of them were planned

2. What do these duties reveal about the basis of local rule in post-carolingian society?

What can Historians learn from this document about how as married man saw his role as head of the family in mid-17th century?

In Marie De France’s poem “Lanval”, the knight Lanval faces immense cultural pressure to get married and have a male heir, as it is the norm in King Arthur’s kingdom. It may appear that “Lanval” is supporting the concept of the institution of marriage, as the story had a heavy focus on marriage, and the court nearly punished Lanval for rejecting Guinevere. On the surface, the poem could easily mislead the reader to believe this is the case, but without further analysis, the reader may miss the courting that the mystery-lady has provided Lanval, which prove why the text critiques the establishment of marriage, as her courting is very much of the inverse of a typical heterosexual relationship in the culture. This misunderstanding can be

Historically, men have held every position of power and status in known societies, civilized or otherwise. Men have been the fore-runners, the providers and the respected warriors of every age since the dawn of recorded time. These cultures did not confuse their identities or cultural roles in regards to gender; men were expected to win fame and fortune for themselves and their families, tribes or clans while women were expected to support their men in domesticity and child-rearing. Men knew what was expected of them since birth as they were often surrounded by masculine role-models in their own societies. However, modern masculinity has become something else entirely. Too much has been written about these time periods to rehash any of the

Einhard’s The Life of Charlemagne is one of several prominent texts from Mediaeval Europe. The main focus of the text is on the life of Charlemagne, the Frankish king from the Carolingian dynasty. Under his rule, the Frankish kingdom experiences an extensive period of prosperity and growth, especially in intellectually related areas since Charlemagne himself is a well-known patron of the arts (#). Hence, Charlemagne is the ruler often credited for the “Roman revival” across Mediaeval Europe. In order to ensure that Charlemagne’s glorious reign will leave its mark in history, all of Charlemagne’s works and accomplishments are accounted for Einhard’s book. As expressed in the preface of the book, Einhard’s intention is to document the life of the greatest king that is often overlooked in other texts (*). Four essential facts are noted in The Life of Charlemagne: 1) The prevalence of alliances & foreign relations 2) Cultural revolution through public works & endorsement of the arts 3) Promotion of the Christian faith 4) Public reforms throughout the state. The Frankish kingdom rises as the dominant post-Roman European entity through the political and economical stabilization of the state with the use of foreign alliances. Emperor Charlemagne is said to have close relations with Kings of Persia, Scotland, and Constantinople (*). Prosperity in the Frankish kingdom is due to the frequent correspondences that exist between these European states, further promoting the flow of

This investigation strives to compare and contrast of the role of women during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. The inquiry is significant because in order to understand the culture and ethics of the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages it is crucial to understand the importance of women. The issues that will be addressed include: the role of women in the Roman Empire, the role of women in the Middle Ages, and the similarities as well as the differences of the two major time periods. This investigation will focus on the time period of 27 BC to 1485 BC and the places investigated will include Europe, more specifically Rome. This will be accomplished through a detailed examination of the role of women in the

By studying both texts, it becomes clear that over time the process of determining relationships has strongly shifted. In the Regency Era, high born families and gentlemen populated most of upper society. Marriages were decided strategically and politically in order to secure a relationship with a noble. Although mostly sought as a bridge to high

Stone argued that between 1450 and 1630, the open-lineage family dominated England. He acknowledged the limitations of his fragmentary evidence, but ventured to draw conclusions about familial trends (116). Stone argued that because marriage occurred

When we look back upon the lives of the men and women living in Elizabethan England their traditions of love and marriage, at first glance, seems so far removed from what we know today. Their antiquated views on the roles men and women play in everyday life further alienate their culture surrounding courtships and marriages. In retrospect, from the views of today’s culture with its emphasis on true love and passion, the customs and traditions of Elizabethan England seem harsh and calculated. The complex rules and subtle nuances seem worlds away from what marriage has evolved to today. Upon closer inspection you might find there are some aspects about courtship and marriage in 16th and 17th century England that don’t differ so strongly

Marie de France lived in a time when social graces were paramount to a good reputation, lordships and to securing good marriages. A woman was considered less valuable if she lost her virginity; a wife was subjected to her feudal lord, father, brother or son after her husband’s death. According to Angela Sandison’s article “The Role of Women in the Middle Ages”, this was because in the Middle Ages the Church and the aristocracy controlled public opinion and the legal system. These authorities of the times believed a woman’s place was in a submissive role to a man. In The Lay of the Nightingale, we will see how this social and religious hierarchy will impact the behaviors of the three people involved.

The economics of marriage was not the only pressure on children to marry where their parents directed. Sixteenth-century children, and girls in particular, were very much brought up to obey, and to believe that it was their duty to their parents… to marry the person chosen for them. It would have taken a very strong-minded girl indeed to have refused to follow her parents’ wishes. Girls who did refuse the partner offered could find themselves bullied by their parents. (3)

Since the beginning of time, humans have had an innate desire for stability and order. This very inclination led to the creation of civilization itself. Most of, if not all civilizations have had social hierarchies and systems that defined the everyday of life of its citizens. An excellent example of this is Renaissance-era Europe. Organized social structures with an emphasis on wealth and family lines dominated society in that era. Baldassare Castiglione’s work The Book of the Courtier is an excellent insight not only into this society, but beyond that as well. The Book of the Courtier exemplifies the different roles for men and women in Renaissance-era Europe and has many applications to the modern world.