Islam & Medieval Western Literature

Just thought I would add this image of Eleanor that was painted by one of my favorite artists, Kinuko Y. Craft.

Eleanor was, from all accounts, one of the most successful woman in the history of world politics. She married twice and both times she managed to out maneuver, or at least try, her royal husbands. This was a woman who knew what she wanted and did not hesitate to go after it. She controlled vast estates and armies as well she her son’s (Richard the Lion Hearted) lands when he was out on Crusade. She also arranged two of her sons’ marriages to women that she choose for them.

Eleanor was the consummate politician. She was perfectly willing to do what it took to get the job done. The fact that this infuriated the men in her life was just the icing on the cake for her. For a woman who gained control of her own lands and life at the age of 15 and who lived to be 82, this was quite an accomplishment. She outlived all but 2 of her 10 children.

Here is a web page on Eleanor from Wikipedi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camilla_%28mythology%29

honor, violence – In this text these two themes are wholly intertwined and thusly they are better served when discussed in unison. The story of the great knight Lancelot begins with the capturing of the Queen to which the proud class of warriors must respond and avenge this injustice to their lord’s companion; it is both their duty and their means of climbing the social latter, during these times. Their acts of heroism are inspired by a sense of honor that is staunchly defended via various violent encounters with feuding knights who have in some way, shape or form challenged their notions of self respect. The knights’ reputations proceed them in the work because of their previous skirmishes. For instance, Lancelot is known have ridden on the cart in the new places he journeys as well as being received as a hero by townspeople of whom he had never met prior because of the one of any number of violent victories he had won. The extreme to which these various conquests were esteemed can be seen in the way that women of the work are very much willing to submit their bodies to the knights as a show of respect for the honor that they have laboriously fought to safeguard. The knights are treated with the utmost of care because they serve to protect the community, the big stick that they carry is the means of maintaining; it preserves their freedom and notions justice, which are often associated with vengeance for a past wronging (ie. slander). The prevalence of violence within these warrior communities can be easily traced when the “damsel” requests of Lancelot to sever off and reward her with the head of a hated knight; a request that Lancelot fulfills, much to his delight because later on the same woman frees him from Meleagant’s prison after all else have seemingly abandoned hope of rescuing him. Even Meleagant has a sense of honor that inspires his actions, and although he is posited by the work as evil and ultimately is killed because of his stubborn pride, he is simply trying to gain the fame and spoils he sees bestowed upon the likes of Lancelot and other renowned warriors. Physical dominance was prized due to the association that fighting had with the notions of honor and bravery at play; if someone were to challenge your honor you must respond swiftly, Lancelot condemns himself for hesitating on multiple instances, and severely by being merciful but to a few.

“You need never use arguments with me… I am ready to fight to prove to the extent of my power that he never was guilty of such a thought.” Lancelot

I am horrible when it comes to blog, which is evidenced by the fact that this is my first blog but we’re in the second week of classes. The readings had not been the least bit captivating to me up until tonight. While I will be the first to admit that I don’t like the whole fairytale romance hoopla, but this story was a refreshing change from Menocal and Said. I saw a lot of what we talked about in class today, with more liberal and free sexuality, especially on the part of women. The damsel took me a little off guard. I guess I just wasn’t expecting a woman with free-will to openly ask a knight to lie with her without any qualms or reservations. On a somewhat unrelated note, however, is a seneschal a lower servant/knight sort of? Kay doesn’t seem too chivalric or knight-like to me. Oh, and is there just no consequence for adultery for the Queen? Does the fact that Arthur not find out mean that it just doesn’t count? I am just baffled by it all, I guess.
Yea, so I definitely have a hard time thinking of things to say on these things that I don’t feel like have been said five times more eloquently, but hopefully I’ll get somewhere.