MaleFemale Relationships Found in Medieval Ballads
ESSAY: Male-Female Relationships Found in Medieval Ballads There are many medieval ballads that contain male-female relationships. However, the ballads "Edward", "Bonny Barbara Allen", and "Mattie Groves" stand out because they all contain atypical male-female relationships. The similarities the three ballads share in their male-female relationships are: 1) there is always a conflict between the male and the female and 2) none of these relationships are representative of the ideal male-female relationship or marriage. Although the male-female relationship in the ballad "Edward" revolves around a mother and a son, their relationship is just as convoluted as the ones found in the other ballads. Edward and his mother have a tense and stormy relationship, which is highlighted through their conversations and interactions with each other. Edward's tenseness towards his mother is shown through his replies to his mother's question "why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid?" Instead of telling her the truth, Edward is at first hesitant and lies to his mother by saying the blood on his sword is from hawk, and then says it is actually from his horse. Eventually Edward cracks due to his feelings of guilt and admits to his mother
The relationship between Edward and his mother is not an example of an ideal male-female relationship, or a mother-son relationship, since both parties do not show respect towards the other. Bibliography none except the sources from where these ballads were found. Although Barbara Allan does not proclaim her love for Sir Graeme as Sir Graeme did for her, Sir Graeme still tells his friends to "be kind to Barbara Allan" (line 24). Barbara Allan is portrayed as being more headstrong because she refuses to acknowledge the fact that Sir Graeme is dying for her love. This is especially highlighted when Edward's mother asks Edward what he will leave for her since he has to flee his homeland in order to save himself. Expecting to find at least some sympathy and advice from his mother, since it was the mother who gave Edward the idea of killing his father, Edward, instead, is bombarded by a series of questions from his mother. These actions show that both of them did respect, and probably love each other, even if both of them, especially Barbara Allan, were reluctant in showing each other how they felt about one another. The relationship between Lord Arlen and his wife contains deception since Lord Arlen's wife is sleeping with Mattie Groves, despite the fact she is married. Although none of the aforementioned ballads contain relationships that are representative of an ideal male-female relationship, each of these ballads are effective in portraying the arguments of both parties involved. The relationship between Lord Arlen and his wife can be characterized as patriarchal through Lord Arlen's actions and words. When Edward's mother asks him what he will leave behind for his children and wife, Edward replies nothing since the world is large enough for them to beg through life (line 46). that he actually killed his father (line 21). The ballad "Bonny Barbara Allan" presents a male-female relationship that does not work primarily because of the stubbornness and demands of the parties involved. Furthermore, Lord Arlen's wife promises Mattie Groves that Lord Arlen will not learn about him since she promises to keep him "out of sight" (line 22). Lord Arlen treats his wife as his property and not as a person.
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