Berengier Gender Roles

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During the Middle Ages, there were strict gender roles for men and women; men were seen as active figures of authority in both the household and society, whereas women were largely confined to the domestic realm and expected to submit passively to men. “Berengier of the Long Ass” is a medieval French fabliau that offers a stimulating perspective on gender and class relations. Throughout the fabliau, the speaker recounts the marriage of a noble-born lady to a low-born knight, and in doing so, emphasizes the ensuing reversal of traditional gender roles. An analysis of the gender and class relations in “Berengier of the Long Ass” reveals the fluidity of gender roles and stability of class hierarchy, giving medieval women a newfound agency which …show more content…

In the beginning of “Berengier of the Long Ass,” the wife appears to uphold the notion of female subservience when she is described “hold[ing] the stirrup for her lord” (Dubin 115). Reference to her husband as her lord is important as it implies that he is a powerful male figure that she yields to. This idea of female passivity, however, is quickly undermined when she “clearly sees [that] her lord / seeks to deceive her by some fraud” (Dubin 153-4). The wife’s intellect allows her to see past her husband’s lies and she quite literally assumes a male gender role by “dress[ing] as a knight for battle” (Dubin 175). Furthermore, her efforts to deceive her husband and degrade him allow her to assume an active role over him and position her as a courageous heroine. The agency that the wife gains when her husband kisses her behind is seen when she declares, “Long Butthole Berengier, acclaimed / for putting cowards all to rout” (Dubin 258-9). Not only does the wife become the dominant gender within the marriage, but she also becomes the powerful leader of their home. This is evident when she brings another man into their bed while her husband is present. Though the husband is appalled by the sight, he does not try and stop her because he knows he has lost his authority within their marriage. Therefore, the wife demonstrates the active, aggressive characteristics typically attributed to men of the time to gain agency within her

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