The Virtue Of Chivalry In Today's Pop Culture

495 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Medieval Christian Europe

During medieval times, knights had to follow a social code dubbed chivalry. Chivalry was the way knights would act around their lover and around other knights. Knights were expected to devote themselves completely to their lover and to their troop. Andreas Cappellanus wrote up a set of rules for knights to follow in their love life that followed the code of chivalry. Many people today think that chivalry is dead, but could plainly see that is not the case just by looking at today’s pop culture. Examples of Cappellanus’ rules can be seen in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Twilight, and How I Met Your Mother.
Cappellanus’ rule: “VI. Boys do not love until they arrive at the age of maturity.” is proven in the novel

Show More
Related

  • Chivalric Identity of Medieval Knighthood

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’arthur, T.H. White’s Once and Future King, and George Romero’s Knightriders encompass the evolution of the Arthurian tale from Malory’s time to the 1980s. Through this time many things have changed and these changes can be seen within the differences between each work. While there are many prominent differences chivalry or the knightly code is one of the main forces that tie these tales together. Malory reworks many of his sources to bring attention to the grand fellowship of Arthur’s Round Table and the chivalry that holds the knights together. Malory idealizes the power of chivalry and gives a great importance to it throughout his text. Unlike Malory, White does not idealize chivalry, but he does see the good and honorable aspects of chivalry. From Sprague Kurth’s article, “Conclusion,” it is clear to see that White gives his text an anti-war stance and shows chivalry and the controlling moral compass of Arthur’s knights. Chivalry is once again idealized in George Romero’s Knightriders the situations within the film are modernized but the emotions and illusions remain the same. T.H. White is directly referenced within the film and Malory’s idealization of the glory of chivalry can once again be seen. In my essay, I will show how chivalry is used in all the texts above as a bonding agent between all Arthurian knights. As Arthur’s knights honor and respect chivalry they remain as one cohesive group, but once they begin to abandon chivalry the Round Table begins to crumble and chaos ensues.

    Read More

  • Love and Destruction in City of Boones by Cassandra Clare

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...l concept, many consequences can arise as a result of it. Their display of self-destructive and reckless behavior endorses the idea that young lovers are not yet mature enough to handle the ramifications that appear as a result of a complicated relationship. Their willingness to rush into major events, such as marriage and even death, further shows how passion can cloud one’s judgement and control one’s thoughts and actions. Though written a long time ago, the message that Shakespeare conveys in Romeo and Juliet about young, passionate love applies to modern society as well, where great consequences arise from people acting on emotional impulse as opposed to calm reasoning.

    Read More

  • Chivalrous Code

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many forms of chivalrous code can be found today, from The Cowboy’s Code to the Rules of Courtly Love. These codes are stated with the hope that people will try and follow them to some degree; yet only the perfect could adhere to them all. Considering the fact that such perfection is impossible, the authors merely set out a guideline for honorable behavior. In the context of medieval times, a knight was expected to have faith in his beliefs; for faith was considered to give hope against the despair that human failings create.

    Read More

  • Morte d Arthur

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Medieval Period, knights dedicated their lives to following the code of chivalry. In Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a number of characters performed chivalrous acts to achieve the status of an ideal knight. Their characteristics of respect for women and courtesy for all, helpfulness to the weak, honor, and skill in battle made the characters King Arthur, King Pellinore, and Sir Gryfflette examples of a what knights strove to be like in Medieval society. Because of the examples ofchivalry, Le Morte d’Arthur showed what a knight desired to be, so he could improve theworld in which he lived.

    Read More

  • Chivalry in the Middle Ages: Illusion or Reality?

    1908 Words  | 4 Pages

    The ideals of chivalry are inextricably linked with the medieval period, and even today it is an ideal we still pay lip service to. Many historians however have questioned whether the knights and nobility of the time actually took it any more seriously than we do. Johan Huizinga described it as “a cloak for a whole world of violence and self-interest” , an “illusion of society [that] clashed with the reality of things” , and in our rather cynical age, this is probably the predominant view of the middle ages. Nonetheless, it is not a view that has gone unchallenged by more recent historians, and even Huizinga concedes that for the nobility, chivalry constituted “an amazing self-deception” , an ideal that resonated with many young nobles who wanted to believe in it, for all its impracticalities.

    Read More

  • Knights And Chivalry

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Knights and Chivalry Chivalry was a system of ethical ideals developed among the knights of medieval Europe. Arising out of the feudalism of the period, it combined military virtues with those of Christianity, as epitomized by Arthurian legend in England and the chansons de geste of medieval France. The word chivalry is derived from the French chevalier, meaning horseman or knight. Chivalry was the code of conduct by which knights were supposedly guided. In addition to military prowess and valor and loyalty to God and the knight's feudal lord, it called for courtesy toward enemies and generosity toward the sick and oppressed, widows, and other disadvantaged people.

    Read More

  • Contemporary Society's Crisis of Masculinity

    2686 Words  | 6 Pages

    Contemporary Society's Crisis of Masculinity Works Cited Not Included Masculinity is the word used to describe the broad stereotyped traits traditionally ascribed to all males in British society and the notion of how men should appear and behave. It is more accurate to refer to 'masculinities', to reflect the complexity and diversity of masculinity today. There are important differences made between 'hegemonic' and 'subordinate' masculinities; hegemonic masculinity is the dominant western image - white, heterosexual and middle class, subordinate the diverse masculinities - homosexual men, black men and the working class. David Beckham is a modern icon who has expressed and challenged some of the dominant assumptions of masculinity and identity. He is a talented and committed footballer yet his experiments with fashion and his posing for shoots are taken by some as an affront to the conventionalities of traditional masculine behaviour.

    Read More

  • The Chivalric Code

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Code of Chivalry The chivalric code was a set of principles developed in the Middle Ages in which it underlined through a knight’s oath the ideals of virtue, honor, loyalty, and honesty to his king, lady, and to God. Written in approximately the 14th century, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” serves to illustrate the ideology of the Code of Chivalry in King Arthur’s Knights at the Round Table. Through his tests, Sir Gawain fails to uphold the chivalric ideals of complete honesty, bravery, and morality. His failure to live up to the ideal does not demonstrate his lack of virtue, but denounces perfection and highlights the human ability to err. Sir Gawain strives to live up to the code of chivalry in his loyalty to his king and queen.

    Read More

  • Chivalry

    334 Words  | 1 Pages

    The legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table molded chivalrous conduct. The Knights of the Round Table possessed many aspects of chivalry, but each of them had flaws. Sir Lancelot, for example, wasn’t entirely loyal to King Arthur because of his desire for Guenevere. He remedied the situation by fighting for his king in the battle against Sir Modred. While the chivalry of the Middle Ages is thought by most to have been reserved for royalty, this was not the case. Common folk also exhibited chivalrous conduct, though in less glamorous ways.

    Read More

  • Dualistic Thinking: Perils of Gender Dichotomy

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    Western society currently understands gender in a dualistic sense. Dualistic thinking is the process of viewing a complex issue, such as gender, in a set of two, such as men and women. Dualistic thinking applies to other areas of life as well but despite how prevalent dualistic thinking is it is not a beneficial way of thinking. The dichotomy of the genders is only possible because of gender roles and the extremes to which gender roles have formed. The intensity to which masculinity has become is what Kimmel discusses in "From Anxiety to Anger."

    Read More

  • Examples Of Courtly Love In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chivalry was a big part of this fourteenth century and it was embodied throughout the men of king Arthurs round table. In General, Chivalry was a set of religious values and moral goals that medieval knights

    Read More

  • Chivalry In The Green Knight And Morte D Arthur

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today chivalry is mostly referred to in regards to how a man treats a woman. Many of this generation believe chivalry to be a synonym for courtesy. This is because the true definition has been lost over time as it was first used in the medieval times. Chivalry is the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak. So not only does it include courtesy, as we understand it today, but includes other honorable qualities. As chivalry is in reference to an ideal knight, it makes sense that we can identify this quality throughout The Green Knight and Morte D’Arthur. These texts are set in medieval times during the rule of King Arthur. Throughout The Green Knight and Morte D’Arthur chivalry is demonstrated, depicting what it

    Read More

  • Code Of Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... has changed drastically. During the Middle Ages, chivalry was a code of brave and courteous conduct for knights. During the Middle Ages, the people who lived during this time use chivalry as a code of conduct .There are some forms of Chivalry today but to a smaller degree than in the Middle Ages. Some examples of chivalry today are helping the elderly, family, and friends with some activities. It’s not possible to be as chivalrous as the knights in the Middle Ages were because our lifestyles have changed. Since the beginning of the Middle Ages, chivalry has been an important part of life. Society had high expectations for knights. Knights strictly followed by these rules and were punished both physically and socially if they broke them. They had many responsibilities such as protect the church, serve their lord, protect the weak and practice courtly love(Chivalry).

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; A Romance?

    1094 Words  | 3 Pages

    Closely associated to the romance tradition are two idealized standards of behavior, especially for knights: courage and chivalry. The protagonist within many medieval romances proved their worth by going on quests, as many a knights went in those times, thus returning with great tales of their travels and deeds. Many modern people think of chivalry as referring to a man's gallant treatment of women, and although that sense is derived from the medieval chivalric ideal, chivalry could be seen as more than that. Knights were expected to be brave, loyal, and honorable-sent to protect the weak, be noble to...

    Read More

  • The Importance of Social Class Exposed in The Canterbury Tales

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chivalry dealt with loyalty honor, and service to women on and off the battle field’ (“The Medieval Period: 1066-1485” 76). The Knight in The Canterbury Tales is the perfect example of someone who follows the code of chivalry. Chaucer describes him with much admiration as “a most distinguishable man, who from the day on which he first began to ride abroad had followed chivalry, truth, honor generousness and courtesy” (Chaucer, "The Prologue." 117). While Chaucer praises the knight for ... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

More about The Virtue Of Chivalry In Today's Pop Culture

Open Document