Social And Biological Characteristics Of Femininity In Marie De France's Lanval

“Lanval” by Marie de France and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer are both medieval romances that put a knight on trial by a queen’s court for his treatment of a lady. Throughout the course of this paper, readers will get the opportunity to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and that during the twelfth-century women were superior to men, specifically in their relationships and marriages; however, today men dominant individuals, especially in working world.

The concept of femininity and masculinity is mentioned many times throughout the essay to highlight it

This is significant because her pursuit signifies initiative, which is a sign of confidence. However, she also does not unconditionally offer her love. The fact that she requires that Lanval be “worthy and courtly” indicates a sense of self-worth. Finally, in her offer, she does not mention any concrete details of what she would do for Lanval, let alone drop anything of her life for his interests, which suggests that although she will love him, she will not let him rule her life (another indicator of her self- worth). This behavior is quite powerful, as the her confidence and self preservation prove that she is a dominant type of individual.

For Lanval, it all starts when the Queen attempts to seduce him and he rejects her in a very polite manner. However, his rejection enrages her and she starts slandering him, the things she says anger Lanval and cause him to strike back. After hearing what he says about her, she runs away weeping and lies to King Arthur telling him that, “He had shamed her! / He’d asked her for a love affair, and She’d said no” (Marie 317-19). Among these lies, the Queen also tells King Arthur the truth about how Lanval has claimed his lover is more beautiful than she, for these things, Lanval is put on trial and must wait for the judges to decide his

Often times in literature the body becomes a symbolic part of the story. The body may come to define the character, emphasize a certain motif of the story, or symbolize the author’s or society’s mindset. The representation of the body becomes significant for the story. In the representation of their body in the works of Marie de France’s lais “Lanval” and “Yonec,” the body is represented in opposing views. In “Lanval,” France clearly emphasizes the pure beauty of the body and the power the ideal beauty holds, which Lanval’s Fairy Queen portrays. In France’s “Yonec,” she diverts the reader’s attention from the image of the ideal body and emphasizes a body without a specific form and fluidity between the forms. “Yonec” focuses on a love not

Lanval was an amusing read. I was talked to my little brother about it and he told me that Lanval’s lady friend sounds like a “medieval sugar mama.” Lanval reminds me of my coworkers who do a lot of important work at my job and never get recognized for it (20). It makes me think that Marie de France wrote this as an escapist romance piece for men considering it mainly talks about the riches that Lanval is given along with the fine food that he gets to eat and spending “quality time” with his beautiful lady friend (181-190). I was caught off guard after Lanval rejects the queen's advances and she then accuses him of being gay. It’s crazy to think that back in those days' people would use gay bashing as a way to insult people (281-282). Lines

Even though these qualities are praised in this culture, medieval narratives commonly uphold unrealistic virtues of what a perfect woman is. After Lanval vows to keep their love a secret, the queen of the court tempts the knight with her love. She says, "Lanval, I have honored, cherished and loved you much. You may have all my love: just tell me what you desire! I grant you my love and you should be glad to have me" (pp. 1771). Shortly after Lanval rejects her advances, the queen further establishes her ill will towards the good knight by saying, "I well believe that you do not like this kind of pleasure. I have been told often enough that you have no desire for women" (pp. 1771). The importance of these accusations exemplifies the queen's power and influence over Lanval. Although he graciously declines the queen's love, he regrettably reveals his love to the queen in an attempt to prove himself to the court. He says, "And I will tell you one thing; you can be sure that one of her servants, even the very poorest girl, is worth more than you, my lady the Queen, in body, face and beauty, wisdom and goodness" (pp. 1771). The manner which the queen entices Lanval reveals that both power and evil can be easily compared to this woman's actions, showing readers the other side of the coin. The division between these two women illustrates how often this society feeds off of a virgin/ whore dichotomy, branding such women

In her poem "Lanval," Marie de France shares a fantasy with her readers, telling the tale of a mysterious woman who journeys from a distant land to be with Lanval, a dishonored knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Marie's portrayal sets Lanval's mistress apart from the maidens and ladies in waiting at King Arthur's court, as she eclipses even Queen Guenever. Much like an editor of a modern woman's fashion magazine, Marie targets her audience of mostly aristocratic twelfth-century women. She describes a mysterious lady whose retinue, meadow pavilion, clothing, figure, cultured sentiments, deportment, and conduct depict her as a superior being. Lanval's mistress is a model Marie's readers

Marie de France’s Lanval is a tale about a knight in King Arthur’s court who meets a lady who happens to be a fairy. Lanval gains her love and she provides him with every generosity that he could possible imagine upon the condition that Lanval not tell anyone of her love for him. When Lanval returns, he is approached by Arthur’s queen for an affair which he declines, and as a result the queen is irritated. Lanval becomes defensive and insults the queen by telling her that his beloved and her servants are “worth” more than her. In his insult to the queen, the existence of his lover is obviously revealed. For the offense of insulting the queen, Lanval is brought before King Arthur. The confrontation between Lanval and King Arthur brings attention to the value of status as a measurement of personal worth in the court of King Arthur.

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.

While the theme of love itself, may it be positive or negative, is reoccurring, Marie’s presentation of romantic relationships and their differing qualities can be considered a theme alone. In “Guigemar”, the relationship between the knight and his lady represents loyalty, and an ability to heal or cure. Yet, the relationship between the beast and his wife in “Bisclavret” demonstrates the selfish and traitorous behavior that can occur between partners, especially if one has proved to be adulterous.

Poetry affects the ancient and modern world indefinitely. Sometimes ambiguous, the influence of poetry relies on how one interprets it, but Aemilia Lanyer’s poems contributed clear ideas on morality. Her poetry summarizes early enthusiasm of female intelligence during the renaissance, and two incredibly valuable poems rely within her book, “Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum.” Lanyer claims the contents were “delivered unto her during sleep many years before,” and she bestows to her readers the poetic argument “Against Beauty Without virtue,” and also “Pilate’s Wife Apologizes For Eve.” These poems influenced not only the era in which Lanyer lived, but have held valuable notions related to present issues of feminism and women’s state in society. Layner’s execution of biblical analogies and views on morality and reason ultimately questioned the perspective on the enlightenment of women and their sensitivity to gender injustice during the renaissance.

The opening chapter briefly introduces the social background of this novel and roughly analyses the social atmosphere of the Eighteenth Century English society and the position of females in the community and literary field. The second chapter analyses the patriarchal phenomenon that females could be traded as commodities and the male could be the absolute authority in the family. The last chapter analyses the definite life path and the certain miserable destiny of females under the social pressure.

Womanhood is often associated with femininity while manhood with masculinity. Masculinity is the idea that men are tough both physically and mentally. Femininity, a term associated with being a women and used to describe a women’s comportment and attitude. A gentle individual, male or female, who wear dresses, skirts, high heels, makeup, have long hair is considered feminine. Unfortunately this term is used to define womanhood, if a women does not portray feminine characteristics she is judged or criticised by the society. Also she is either viewed as homosexual or queer. I chose two pictures of Grace Jones,whom happens to be a bender gender, portrays elements of femininity and masculinity (opposite of femininity),thus, a possible victim of such persecutions. Grace Jones is a supermodel and singer from Jamaica, who’s renowned for crossdressing and artistic fashion styles (Williams). One picture is from national portrait gallery website titled, “Jones/Nightclubbing”, while the other, from “Essence” website, both will be used as my sources of comparison for this essay. These images of Jones demonstrate that women can be feminity or soft while obtaining masculine characteristics or hard through her outer appearance, physique and body expression.

To be feminine is to be pretty, sexualized, and passive. “Marked Women” by Deborah Tannen, “Sexism in English: Embodiment and Language” by Alleen Nilsen, and “A Woman’s Beauty: Put Down or Power Source?” by Susan Sontag are three essays that show these negative connotations of femininity. Together, they exemplify that females are “marked” as pretty, sexualized, and passive.