Michael Gill
Dr. Helms
EN 3240
14 October 2022
Project
Throughout the readings within class at this time in the semester there have been many themes that I have seen that relate to other readings in multiple ways. One theme I have noticed that has stuck with me so far this year is the pressure that was often put on men (mainly knights) to not show fear or weakness even when the odds were stacked against them. I really noticed it in the recent reading from Spencer when looking at how many knights were told to fight off this monstrous dragon that was capable of killing many men. Spencer describes how the dragon was able to wipe out many knights with the slightest of ease, leaving the knights and their horses into a brutal death. There was a lot of emphasis on the role these men played as knights within their societies as they were expected to protect their people’s lands as well as surviving battle so they would be able to come home and be with family. The story of Gawain and the Green Knight was also an interesting one that plays into the reality that men had to prove their courage and strength by doing things that were basically a one way ticket to death. Gawain gets himself into a situation in which he cannot get out of unless he does the courageous things and allows the seemingly immortal Green Knight to take a chop at his head. I also noticed a similar theme that I was able to connect back to Bisclavret where the man had problems with turning into a beast once a week which eventually caused problems with his wife. There is a correlation between how men were supposed to act when in situations where they are expected to act a certain way no matter how they may be feeling inside. In all three of these stories there are noticeable similarities regarding the role a man played as knight, as a man who believed he had to prove himself, and a man that was subject to his own self which damaged his life and relationship. It seemed that the idea of men having to be “men” would result in the death of many men who were terrified to face the realities of death and of marriage when some truths came out.
When reading Spencers writings it is quite interesting to see inside some of the lines that seem to describe some of the sadness and sorrow that many knights had to deal with during there time on earth. The amount of death they had experienced throughout their lives had to have taken a massive toll on their overall mental health as they questioned why they were being sent to fight other enemies and even dragons at some points. One part that stuck out to me was when the Red Cross Knight was facing that dragon which seemed to be a reference to Chrisianity being the protector from beasts like such. When it came to these battles that the knights had to go through they saw many of their own friends and even family die at the hands of their enemies. Spencer describes, “ And ever ready for your foeman fell. The sparke of noble courage now awake, And strive your excellent selfe to excell; That shall ye evermore renowmed make, Above all knights on earth, that batteill undertake” (1.11. 14-18). This is an example of how many of the knights would have to see their friends die but they had to continue bravely in order to not show weakness and carry on honorably for their family name. Knights were also often sent to battle dragons which was pretty much a suicide mission in it self as Spences writes, “His harder hide would neither perce, nor bight, But glauncing by forth passed forward right; Yet sore amoved with so puissant push, The wrathfull beast about him turned light, And him so rudely passing by, did brush With his long tayle, that horse and man to ground did rush” (1.11. 139-144). The knights were throwing all they had at this dragon and it took nothing for the dragon to wipe out the knights and their horses before they were sent back again in waves of attack. Lastly, there was also the pressure from a knight’s wife to survive battle and return home safely to tend to the family and keep them protected while at home. “Yea but (quoth she) the perill of this place. I better wot then you, though now too late, To wish you backe returne with foule disgrace, Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate, To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate” (1.11.109-114). Here it seems that a woman is explaining that she desires that her husband do his best to make it through battle so he can return safely and continue his life with his wife and kids. All of this ties into the idea that these men must prove themselves to those around them and provide a form of protection to their people and to those who they love back at home.
The story of the Green Knight is another great story that exemplifies what some men had to do in order to gain respect from others in their society. This story involves a nephew of King Arthur who had jumped the gun on a deal he did not know the true extent of. When the Green Knight offered King Aurthurs knights a chance to cut off his head as long as they came back a year and a day later so the Green Knight could have his chance of cutting off their head. Gawain was the only one brave enough, at the time, to take this deal which he later suffers from. As Gawain wanted to be like his uncle’s knights he had a five pointed shield that had stood for five virtues he was supposed to live by. Throughout the story one can see the multiple times he is tested of these virtues, such as when he was tempted with Bertilak’s wife who he did end up sleeping with. In order to become a true knight Gawain had to live honorably by these virtues which make this story as unique as it is. The little test seem to show Gawain later that he is not really worthy of being a knight as he is overcome with fear when the Green Knight has his turn with the axe swinging. It seemed this story was about a young man that had bit off more than he could chew which did not take long to catch up to him as we was tempted with another man’s wife and when he did not have the courage to own up to his end of the deal with the Green Knight.
The story of Bisclavret was also another story that had some correlation with the certain ideals and norms that men had to live by during these times. The story first made me think it was describing how men can have a beastly side to them based on the kinds of trauma they may have experienced as most men during these times had some sort of military role for their nation. One line that stuck out was one that described that the husband had been struggling with the fact that he would turn “bisclavret” as the story states, “If I don’t get some help, some healing, I will die soon of what I’m feeling” (Marie de France, 2). It seems that the husband knows that there is something going on within him that he both cannot control and that he knows if he tells others then they will see him as something he is not. It also made me think of how men were expected to act due to the fact that he would disappear once a week when he turned “bisclavret” so his wife would not have to see him in this different form. He was trying to protect his wife from this side of him where he would lose his clothes (symbol for civility?) so she would still love him for who he is. Once he told his wife where his clothes were hidden she had taken them so he would not be able to return to his normal human form.
These three stories have a similar concept in terms of societal expectations of men in the past and how they were able to handle their issues within the expectations of the society they were a part of. From fighting dragons and other knights to proving your courage and hiding parts of yourself that you do not want others to show these men had to struggle throughout their lives with things that no one could see or understand.