Roles Of Women In Arthurian Tales

Throughout the tales, from long extensive stories like Lancelot to poems like Lanval, women are portrayed differently. From lovers to witches, women are given side roles. Male characters are the one who move the plot forward and women just play a part in it. The ladies have no active role in the stories. Most of the tales revolve around men. Women are described as beautiful, fair and young. They are constantly complimented on their bodies. Their body shape is explicitly described through the texts. There is no description of women being intellectual. “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, does not apply in Arthurian tales. Women are seen as beautiful objects and there is nothing more to it. When a woman enters the court, people are appalled