kaseyd – Islam & Medieval Western Literature http://blogs.elsweb.org/islammedlit Just another blogs.elsweb.org weblog Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:03:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 Bold Women http://blogs.elsweb.org/islammedlit/2007/07/11/bold-women/ Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:01:47 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/islammedlit/2007/07/11/bold-women/ Continue reading →]]> The issue I seem to keep running up against in both Arabian Nights and the Decameron is the extent of control women have in their marriage choices. I really hadn’t thought that they would have much say in the matter of who they would or would not marry. In the Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman, not only does Kamar refuse to marry, but Princess Budur refuses her father as well. And yeah, so she gets scolded, locked up in her own little chamber, but she still gets what she wants: no husband. And when the lovely princess decides that she’s changed her mind, she’ll only marry Kamar. When I had thought of wealthy aristocratic families like this, whether Arabic or English, I had thought the daughters married who their fathers said they would marry, no questions asked. And they certainly wouldn’t get away with threats of suicide.
And in the Decameron, second day, tenth story. How in the world does Bartolomea get away with deciding to stay with the man who kidnapped her over the man she married? Since when did women have the balls to do something like that and when did men start letting them get away with this in the medieval times? As much as I applaud her efforts, I’m truly struggling to wrap my brain around these women playing such an active role in their marriage choices and lives.

And another thing, in both the Tale of Kamar Al-Zaman and about three or four stories in the Decameron, women are dressing up and parading around as men. I mean, I know Boccaccio is trying to create this blended world of unknown Greek and exotic Arabic, but really? How believable is it that women could dress up as men, hide their completely different body types and mannerisms, and become kings, sultans, advisers, husbands, etc. I especially liked that the daughter of the King of England is traveling as a male Abbott. I really think the royal family may have had a problem with this.

]]> Lancelot: My Hero http://blogs.elsweb.org/islammedlit/2007/07/02/lancelot-my-hero/ Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:38:22 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/islammedlit/2007/07/02/lancelot-my-hero/ Continue reading →]]> First off, I have to say this was the first reading that I could not put down, ignoring the fact that I read during my night class.

I don’t know if I’m just a sucker for fairy tales or what, but I don’t think I could even begin to doubt Lancelot and the Queen’s love. And while Lancelot continuously sacrifices for his love, I feel like the Queen sacrifices and suffers as well. Even though the story doesn’t end with them together, they are still able to be near in each and continue to hope for a chance at some recognition of love.

The other thing I really liked about this tale is that all of our favorite characters come around. Arthur’s hanging out, Gawain’s the trusty best friend, the usual love interest is there in the Queen, and the evil forces take the shapes of men, dwarfs, and skeezy women. It’s like our own soap opera on paper. I think I even recall a scene in the story as a scene in the movie “A Knight’s Tale” with the ever-ruggedly handsome Heath Ledger.

The only character I really truly don’t like is Kay. Why is he such a pansy? And why in the world did King Arthur think it was a good idea to entrust Kay with the Queen? He’s the biggest loser I ran across in this story. Even when Meleagant has his arm chopped off, he continues to fight out of pride.

Lastly, I laughed when the narrator has to say, “But their joy will not be revealed by me, for in a story, it has no place.” So, he can’t talk about them having sex, I would guess?

Three cheers for Lancelot. Are we sure this type of guy doesn’t exist anymore?

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