Women's Power in the Middle Ages
What can we learn from Enide, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Joan of Arc about the ability of medieval women to exercise power? Be sure to consider several forms of power and to consider at least some of the following: the relationship between husband and wife; the role of love and marriage for men and women; women's capacity to act in the public sphere; specifically female spirituality; women's roles in culture and courtly life. The process by which the view of the female is constructed in medieval times serves to underline the male supremacy of a courtly society which claims to center around the female, but which in the same time, essentially reduces her to the status of an object destined to satisfy and mirror male values and desire. In this world where men have the only say so, we see where women are also powerful, sometimes indirectly, and sometimes directly. In this case, Enide is shown as an indirect power through persuasion and love, Eleanor of Aquitaine through political activity, and Joan of Arc through spirituality. "Erec and Enide" is a story of love, adventure, knighthood, and chivalry. Chretien seems to develop a view of marriage. The cause of the couple's adventures seems to be the excessive love within t
It is not mentioned in the work directly what exactly holds Erec to Enide, but we assume that it is true love. She was an object, something that was used for status, serving and obedience, and sex. This shows that Henry could trust her and she had proven herself to be a capable administrator and also to possess many political skills. Joan was a woman, and it was unheard of for a woman to be a general in an army. According to Chretien, the love between the is so great that Erec loses interest in anything other than Enide: "But Erec loved so ardently, he burned no longer for events of knightly valor,, tournaments; he showed indifference to them all and lived, absorbed and sensual, making her pet and paramour, still serving and attending her, kissing, embracing, dallying, seeking her ease in everything" (2432-2440). In her letter to the king of England, she writes: "and the Maid promises and certifies to you that if you do not leave France she and her troops will raise a mighty outcry as has not been heard in France in a thousand years. While she was Duke of Aquitaine, she did everything that a male ruler would have done and it became a great center for literature and arts. Joan had visions from God in which she heard the voices of saints Catherine and Margaret. Erec looks up at Enide, and something in her eyes and her look, gave him strength to continue. Joan was considered the savior of France, and was later named a saint herself. And believe that the King of Heaven has sent her so much power that you will not be able to harm her or her army" (Joan of Arc Her Life and Trial, p. However, there are many different types of power, as we have seen in these women. Here we see Enide possessing a different type of power. Although it is clear that women, in this case, have no literal power, Enide possesses perhaps even more power than is recognized.
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Acceptance Essays
