The Medieval Portrayals of Women in Literary Works

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

This essay will analyze the medieval portrayals of women as well as the attitudes that existed towards them during this period. It will analyze four literary works in the quest of evidence for the conclusions that will be attained. This essay will link the Koran, the poem of Cid and Dante’s inferno to Augustine’s Confessions while comparing and contrasting the medieval literary images of, as well as attitudes towards women. It will also attempt to look at women’s experience and analyze their roles and functions with the use of examples. The above books display various perceptions and attitudes towards women that permeated during the middle ages. (St. Augustine, 101)

Discussion

The Confessions of St. Augustine is an autobiography that was written by St. Augustine. It reflects his younger days as a sinner and his journey towards Christianity. The book displays a certain attitude towards women. Women are seen as servants or are expected to be subservient. A sample of the text of this literary work says, “My mother, your faithful servant….” (St. Augustine, 214) A subsequent portion says, “She served us as if she was a daughter to all of us.” (St. Augustine, 216) It can be construed from this text that girls and women were expected to serve men from their childhood and even during their adulthood. The woman in the first quotation is referred to as a servant. Women were praised for showing submissiveness and good servitude. This reflects that women and females in general were expected to serve the other members of the society. The Confessions of St. Augustine reflect the author’s extreme views on women and sexuality. Women are portrayed as having very little power or leverage with regard to marriage and sex. “Since it was not until two years’ time I was to obtain her I sought, — being not so much a lover of marriage as a slave to lust, — procured another women”. (St. Augustine, 332) The book exhibits a conservative and religious view on women. They are portrayed as subordinate and men are expected to protect and care for them. “Thou hast granted to man that from others he should come to conclusions as to himself, and that he should believe many things concerning himself on the authority of feeble women” (St. Augustine, 441)

The poem of Cid is a medieval work of literature that lingers on the life and struggles of Cid especially during the period that he was exiled by his king. In the story, Cid goes through great pain and tribulation during the time that he is exiled. Just like in St. Augustine’s Confession, the women in the Poem of Cid are treated as lesser beings that are subordinate to men. Cid appeals to the king to free the pent women so that he can marry them. Another male-chauvinistic theme is revealed when then the Cid says, “My daughters are not of marriageable age, but I and they are in your hands. Give them as it pleases you.” (Pérez, 265)

In Dante’s inferno, there is a shift in that women are given a degree of power. Unlike in Augustine’s Confessions, women here are not portrayed as completely weak and at the mercy of men. For example, in the text the author’s beloved Beatrice sends him a guide by the name of Virgil. Women are treated equally with men as illustrated by Francesca who together with her husband’s brother are punished in hell for their love affair. (Alighieri, 142)

The Koran is a rich work of literature that was written by the founders of Islam. It speaks of various tales as well as laws that are supposed to regulate the behaviors, attitudes and experiences of people of both the male and female genders. Just like in the Confessions of St. Augustine, the Koran looks upon women are a lesser species that is supposed to be obedient and subservient to the males. Men are favored throughout the Koran while women are disfavored. “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard.” (Dawood, 84) Women are also expected to be modest and invisible. They are not supposed to draw attention to themselves. They are expected to be silent and conservative, just like in St. Augustine’s Confessions. “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers,…or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments….” (Dawood, 97)

Conclusion

St. Augustine’s confessions, the Poem of Cid and the Koran are highly male chauvinistic works of literature. They illustrate the beliefs and attitudes towards women that existed at the time of their publication. Dante’s Inferno shows a small shift from this when his Lover sends him Virgil, a guide, to help him pass through hell and find her in heaven where she awaits him.

Works Cited

St. Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine. Filiquarian Publishing LLC., 2008.

Dawood, N. J. The Koran: with a parallel Arabic text. Penguin, 1990.

Alighieri, Dante. Inferno. Hackett Publishing, 2009.

Pérez, Janet. The Feminist Encyclopedia of Spanish Literature: N-Z. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.

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The Medieval Portrayals of Women in Literary Works

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