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Comparing Women In Beowulf And Le Morte D Arthur

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Comparing Women In Beowulf And Le Morte D Arthur
In the early years from 1300-1400 AD, Anglo women had relatively similar roles throughout the land. Although their duties may have differed, women were generally depicted as being submissive, frail, and seductresses. They had little to no importance within stories of the time, with exceptions being women who held higher value; women who were high class, or who had supernatural abilities. These qualities are noted in virtually all old- English texts, not only through their actions, but through their words as well. The poems Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Le Morte d’Arthur illustrate these characteristics in each female character. In Beowulf, written by an unknown author known as “Beowulf-poet”, women were generally very passive …show more content…
Common women seem to merely exist, with no major contributions to society. They cannot have strength, as the men are the dominant sex. The only time women can have power is by means of being magical. In which case, they have evil intentions or prove to lead down bad paths. Queen Guinevere, when asked by Sir Lancelot if she had any armor in her room, replied “Now, truly, I have none armor neither helm, shield, sword, neither spear…” (485). As the Queen, Guinevere has no weapons to fight with or armor to defend herself with. These duties rest solely in the lives of the men, or the knights of the land. Guinevere has no physical power, much like all feudal women. Over all, women of the Middle Ages had no major roles in society. They lived to serve men and did so willingly. They had no real power, unless they were magical or non-human. This can be seen in Beowulf, as Grendel’s mother is a demon. Women were commonly known as seducing, and displaying the characteristics of a siren, which can be derived from all of the texts. Women of higher class were treated better, and were decorated in fine jewelry and clothing. Although women had no major parts in society, they were still respected and seen as

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