my maid of honor speech for my sisters wedding!
14 years ago
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Breaking Stereotypes
The Medieval period introduced the concept of courtly love as we see expressed in the Knight and Squire in Chaucer's General Prologue. The Knight is the most highly regarded in the narrator's eyes: "Though so strong and brave, he was very wise and of temper as meekly as a maid. He never yet had any vileness said, in all his life to whatsoever wight. He was a truly perfect, noble knight." The Squire, the Knight's 20-year-old son, the "lover and lively bachelor", is described "as fresh as May" and is skilled in composing songs and poetry. These Medieval men embrace the codes of chivalry, a great departure from the ultra-masculine image of the warrior in Beowulf. React to this more sensitive male character -- is he an appreciated departure from the Anglo-Saxon warrior or simply a sissy who cannot hack it with the real men? And what does this say about our stereotypes today about men? Have we continued to progress as a society and embrace the "knights" and "squires" of today...or have we regressed, idolizing the new Beowulf?
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We definitely have trouble with male stereotypes today, such as gay men versus straight men. There are manyyyyy cases of hate crimes against people who are viewed as gay. The funny thing is, in many cases, people are accused of being gay by description. Plus, if you look at all the movies of the past and today, the main character is always a "manly-man." In today's society, it seems to be a direct criticism if you are "gay", which the knight's would definitely be described as if coupled with phrases like "as fresh as may." It is definitely ironic, though, that today we think of knights as guys on big black horses who go into battle but still enjoy courting ladies. This seems like the guy could be a "pimp." Even so, it seems to me that we are back to the Beowulf-era of big tough guys who stand on their own and wouldn't be caught dead being called a "lovely and lively bachelor."
I agree with Grace, hi grace! Well, this evolution of manhood from manly men to more sensitive men shows the progression of the actual time period. Time does change society and during this mid-evil period certain high class men were allowed and expected to be chivalrous and almost sissies. All generations have had stereotypical norms depending on the time and society. Just like women are expected to be "girly" meaning meek and less masculine, men are expected to be masculine and fearless. These stereotypes define men of this generation but, they really don't match all men. There are variations in the male gender. Nowadays i do believe more people are accepted but, the ideal man is a bruit like Beowulf (in our society's eyes). However, because of more awareness i think more people are being accepted and looked upon as the ideal man. Wow, it's friday night and i am blogging for english... yay for having a life!!!
I agree with you guys, but only up to a point. I really don't want to defend anyone, but gay men are viewed as inferior to "real" men, and that they are lower than them. I think that if a group of people think, as a whole, that a guy is acting "girly", then he is far, far below their rank. But I also think that we tend to appreciate the people like the knight and the squire. Simple things, like holding a door open or something, can be considered a "manly" gesture, depending on who you're talking to. In other words, chivalry is still accepted in today's world, but there is a difference between being a "girly" and "wimpy" man and being a polite, quiet man. It's a fine line b/w the two, and it depends on the audience who witness these actions on whether or not this person is weak or just polite.
I don't think that we've gone back to idolizing the people of Beowulf's time, but we do idolize men who are "manly" and still kind. A combination, if you will.
The "knight" and the "squire" are definitely an appreciated depature from the typical Anglo-Saxon warror, at least in my opinion. This mainly does have to do with the changing of the times as life is now easier and not all about the survival. I guess people now have the time to engage in "courtly love", like a hobby if you think about it. I guess procreation was not an issue back then.
In my own opinion, I do like the change, because compared to the typical Anglo-Saxon warrior, knights have the restraint of their...desires to put it one way. And I rather like the idea of a man being able to control themselves then "rapping twenty virgins". That restraint does make a knight stronger, at least mentally.
As for the stereotypes of men in today's world, it is very much half and half. We do idolize the macho pro-football players, but the "skinny" and "whimpy" male writers, singers, and instrumentalists are very much welcomed by today's society. I think that we are close to fully embracing the "knights" and "squires". The big strong man will always be physically appealing, but sometimes it is nice to have a man with a brain.
There's no question as to whether or not we have male stereotypes today; we do. We see it everyday when we watch the news or travel the hallways. Gender stereotypes are inevitable, they merely change as the time period goes on.
In the Anglo-Saxon time, strong males were those able to fight (Beowulf), while those who were cowards were considered weak (Unferth). In medieval times, white and black knights were loyal and giving, making them apprecaited. (notice that of the 30 characters in the Canterbury Tales, not one of them is a male singer/instrumentalist). Today, males are often measured by how "gay" or "straight" they are.
Although the concept is somewhat ridiculous, it's the truth.
Of course, it would be wonderful if we as a society could come to terms with everyone, but as history and time periods have unfortunately proven, with the complexity of man comes more brutal, distinct, stereotypes.
That being said however, I think society has begun to accept more types of people. If women who were once seen as meek and useless are now prosperous doctors, and African Americans who were once condemned for their skin color are now leading politicians, then there is more tolerance for "manly men" as well. The measure of how manly a man is relates back to heroism. As Steph was saying, simply gestures can be considered manly. Thus, as time progresses, the fact that men are still men doesn't change, but the ratio of generosity and strength within them does.
I have to say that I disagree… I think that we are neither centered around a Beowulf-type of man nor a Knight-type of man as a stereotype. I feel that our stereotype as a society now lies in the middle. Today, if we [ladies] see an über manly-man, we may lump him off as arrogant and obnoxious. (Then again, it always depends on what kind of guy you go for…) However, if we see a very effeminate man, we may categorize him as too sentimental. (ie: We already have our ‘girl’ friends for a reason… :/) It is refreshing, though, to find a man that is kind and caring as well as strong, to an extent.
For example, in films like The Illusionist, Edward Scissorhands, The Pursuit of Happyness, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, the leading men aren’t ridiculously masculine or leaning towards the emotional capacity of the squire. Instead, they are caught somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. In The Illusionist, the male character demonstrates strength and mental ability, but also does everything he does for love, much like a knight. In The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith’s character tries to be strong for his son (and succeeds!), but also does so for emotional reasons, and doesn’t demonstrate brute physical strength as Beowulf did.
Now I feel like I’m walking in circles.
I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that our stereotype isn’t formulated around strong men or emotional men. Instead, it’s the “happy medium”. In high school, we may initially be drawn to the manlier specimen, but in truth, as time goes on, we find ourselves drawn to the “best friend” type – someone we connect with on an emotional level, but can still feel safe with.
If that makes any sense…
To answer the first question posed, I would say definitely yes, that the squire is an appreciated departure from the ultra-masculine image of the Anglo-Saxons heroes. The Knight, however, is a man that seems to be somewhat in the middle of both Beowulf and his son. As evidenced in his tale, he appreciates a good brawl (for the right reasons, he may add), and he definitely is for war.
Bringing that to a more modern perspective, today's stereotypical man is one like the Knight. He can go out for a drink at the bar and is eager to "fight", but has the integrity not to run around in a figurative loin cloth and shout his name for instant recognition. Our society has evolved to where we don't need a man like that.
We haven't, per say, begun to embrace the "squires" of today (although a few years ago metrosexuality was quite the craze, i.e. straight men getting their nails done). I only mention this because, as a few other bloggers above me have mentioned, there is still discrimination against the homosexual population (not saying that the squire is homosexual). This "feminine" side was completely acceptable to "tap" into during the Middle Ages, and was apparently prized by the narrator.
Certainly, however, both "squires" and "Beowulfs" can be found among the throng of men that populate our society presently. It all matters on who we believe is the majority and who is the minority at the moment.
oh hey, its cristina under a new name sorry cuz i toooootally forgot my password..oops. =]
beowulfff <333333
ooookayyy here it goes. men are people. yes, they are genetically designed in most cases to preform certain "manly" tasks such as protecting, but do we let that carry over too much into other aspects of life? while i like my men manly, it is probably unhealthy to the standards we hold them to. the worst of it all is that we frown upon a man who speaks of his feelings. while it may be "sissy", talking about how you feel is completely healthy, and getting people's perspectives on your situations can prevent making stupid decisions. additionally, boy am i glad to be a girl. just throwing that in there. guys are generally even more feeling than girls since their emotions are so often repressed. this explains most of their behavior. however, as a society, we've become more accepting of those "Feeling" guys. we mostly attribute them to being umm "less manly", but we're accepting none-the-less. While beowulf is still my main man, a knight or squire also have some quite appealing qualities to the female persuasion? (hah.) a knight is comparable to today's romantic novel stars. you know, like the ones with fabio on the cover..undeniably masculine, yet sensitive and what not. sooo if any of you manly men want to talk about feelings sometime, give me a call! hahahaha! oh boy i'm trailing off now. long story short, manly stereotypes are awful and oppressive.
I believe that the medieval sensitive male character is an appreciated departure from the Anglo-Saxon warrior. The knights and squires of the day could still fight well, but they had a much more considerate way of fighting. They did not fight just for the sake of fighting as with the Anglo-Saxons, but rather they fought with a purpose. Because their life was not dominated by reaching fame for their achievements in battle, the knights of the time were able to develop in other aspects of their life such as the arts. They were able to form stronger connections with those that they surrounded themselves with, hence the development of courtly love. Self-restraint was now important rather than forms of primitive desire. The knights and squire of the time were not sissies but rather men who learned the value of self-restraint. With the development of the feudal system and strong influence of Christianity the ideas of the ideal man differed. They may not have been strong brutal fighters as the Anglo-Saxon men were, but they had now developed new strengths that reflected the times.
Today’s standards for men have changed from the Middle Ages ideals. As a society different types of men are now accepted by different people. In many ways these differences are based off of what class you are in and what you surround yourself with. While some want men to be super masculine others want men to be more sensitive and good-hearted. The upper-class seems to be allowed to look "pretty" without fear while the lower classes tend to need to look tough and strong. In my opinion the middle class wishes for a combination of male standards. Many women want a male who is protective and strong often doing well in sports with friends, but also a male who can be kind an sensitive in the home. Society today seems to have accepted a vast variety of male standards, but these standards seem to rely upon the class that you are part of.
I think that medieval men are appreciated departures from the let's-have-bloody-fights-tonight warriors in Beowulf. Really...who wants men who want to be aggressive and fighting all the time? In my opinion, the warriors in Beowulf, as far as the movie goes, don't look too appealing. They drink mead and sing about...weird nasty things. The Knights can fight AND follow chivalry codes. And they fight with a legit (not a real word according to Angela) purpose. They're not disgusting, so it's nice to have them rather than the Beowulf warriors.
Now if I was one of those manly men, like biker dudes, I'd say that the Squire can't hack it with real men. He's so much in passion that he can't come away from composing songs and poetry...That's just unusual in itself, but anyways, he probably won't be hanging out with bikers anytime soon. If the Squire really wanted to "hack it" with "manly" men, I'm sure he can just wear a varsity jacket, spike his hair, wear an earring and drive a huge pick up truck or carriage. Afterall, people see the appearance first and make an initial judgment. The Squire will pass as a man based on looks.
As myself, I don't think there's anything wrong with men not being ultra-masculine. Some women even prefer those men who are into...I don't know...like ballroom dancing, cooking, and tearjerker movies. However, like the biker dude scenario, there's still stereotypes. I don't think that's ever going to change. Like Molly said, more people are being accepting today because society is changing. Everyone realizes that everyone is different, and there's nothing wrong with being different.
I totally agree with Angie. I think most people have come to accept a balance in men. No one wants a guy who flaunts his masculinity like Beowulf, but I don't think they'd want a "sissy" either.
The stereotypical male character in mideaval England was most likely a reaction to the ultra-masculine Beowulf. It's the same today - a man who doesn't bother to read books or cook his own food isn't appealing to most women, which is most likely a reaction from the typical 50s man who relied on his woman to do things for him.
However, at the same time no woman wants a guy who's too much like herself. I think that society today has accepted a balance between both stereotypes.
I agree with Cristina that manly stereotypes are awful and that men often strive to be manly to fit in, which causes their emotions to be repressed. It's terrible that our society has to put people into categories, based on their appearence or behavior. But, stereotypes like this seem to have been true in the Anglo-Saxon period as well. Beowulf was the ideal man during that time period-he was extremly powerful and strong. Today the same stereotype is present, that in order to be accepted as a man one has to be strong and powerful, while hiding their emotions inside.
Today, as Angela said, we are starting to accept men that are not really manly or really wimpy, but men who are in the middle. But, this then still leaves the extremes. Our society needs to be able to respect every person no matter what they look like or act like. No one should think it is ok to judge other people, it doesn't matter in the end. If we spend our lives judging others then we will forget who we are. Yesterday I was in NYC in there was a man playing a guitar as we waited in line, and at first you think he is going to be a typical person, playing their intrument on the street, but he turned out to be very funny and insightful at the same time. I remember one thing that he said that relates to this-he told a guy behind us in line that he had a picture of him on his wall, the guy looked at the man like he was insane. Then he told him that he had his picture because they were the same, they were one man, inside they were the same person because the outside doesn't matter, soon we will all be skeletons in the ground, and our souls will be dancing in heaven. It sounds crazy, but if you think about it that man on the street was right, the outside doesn't matter.
I think today, we fall somewhere in between this idea of overly masculine Beowulf types and the very kind caring knight and squire types. The media often emphasizes the more strong, powerful men but in reality, most people tend to prefer that kind of nice guy image, to an extent. No one wants to spend their days with someone who is self-obsessed and just stares at themselves in the mirror all day. However, those who are very sentimental are labeled "gay." The ideal man falls somewhere in between. Take Edward Cullen for example, quite possible the most amazing man to ever exist in reality or in imagination. Edward Cullen is, obviously, incredibly strong, able to stop speeding cars and take down one vicious vampire after another. But at the same time, he is very kind, caring, and smart. For many, if not most, his strength is actually less memorable than his character. The ideal man today combines both this masculine Beowulf persona with the sweet character of the Squire.
I would say that I agree with both Steph and Denise. Society has made gay men out to be “sissies” just because they tend be more “in touch with their feminine side.” Sometimes, American culture depreciates the culture of homosexuals and makes it out to be “not normal”, assuming that being “normal” is something more to the extent of Beowulf, not the Knight and Squire. Men do aim to be “manly” and that is what keeps them from being more like the Knight and Squire. However, many people do appreciate people like our Knight and Squire. They are not necessarily like homosexuals but at the same time, they are not Beowulf and the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero. They tend to be right in between, having characteristics of both. They are brave and loyal, but at the same time, they can be “fresh as may.”
lol at Denise's comment xD
I really do think the definition of a manly man today is very different then what it was around the time Beowulf was written. Beowulf was seen as being a very tough, masculine character whose only emotions were those of contempt for Grendel, as well as a wish for fame. He really didn't seem to have any fear or regret any of the "manly" things he did. If such a character as Beowulf were to arise in today's society, we would probably spend our time trying to discover his weak points and inner feelings, as opposed to simply accepting his manly presence. Today's society emphasizes the importance of considering specific situations from various points of view. We highlight the importance of understanding each other's true feelings, whether it be through counseling or simply through deep conversation with the people in our lives. Although men today are still somewhat expected to project such a manly presence, we tend to dig seeper into even the smallest of problems associated such a character. Thus, I feel that men today, though tough on the outside, are generally more accepted than the men of Beowulf's time. Like many other people mentioned in their comments, this form of acceptance may very well deal with a person's sexual preferences.
Now in my opinion, any man who chooses to show a little sympathy, instead of trying to be such a manly figure, is anything BUT a sissy. Times have changed since the story of Beowulf, and men are indeed, embraced as "squires" and "knights." After all, relationships have deffinately changed, and men (for the most part) now view themselves as being on the same level as women, as opposed to Beowulf's time. This presents them as being more in touch with their feelings. HOWEVER, I do feel that society has backtracked since the time of the Canterbury Tales, and has begun once again to incorporate the manly expectations of men into everyday life.
We do accept different kinds of men today, much like the knights and the squires. But then again, we still tend to judge them, whether we realize it or not. Basically, what I'm saying is that men are more accepted today, and we indeed have progressed as a society. But for many men, the true acceptance, as portrayed by the Knight and Squire, has yet to make its way into the current society.
P.S. - Sorry for saying "society" so many times. I know how much our class HATES that word :D
American society provides a more liberal acceptance of gender stereotypes. In other words, American men have a lot more freedom of expression than men in the rest of the world. If we think that gender acceptance here is quite bad, meaning we idolize the "Beowulf-like" male specie, then imagine how discriminated "squire-like" men in other parts of the world must feel. Every society has their own set of values, but overall, I think that men have learned through experience and family how to act. Men have always been designated as the head of the household or the brave knight or the warrior, in any setting or time period. I think it's because in any society, we are not really accepting of men as weak. I think, in this case, the squire isn't any less "weak" than the real man. Women were just more respected during that time period, and he still has the responsibility to one day protect his people.
I just think that these manlike attributes are instilled to males ever since they were born. Humans are just simple creatures; we react to our environment. Thus, if a male boy is seen holding a Barbie, his parents would probably take it away from him. Even if they don't, he'll probably learn later in his life that "boys wear blue" and "barbies are for girls".
Nowadays, I think that women like spontaneity more than anything. Although the ultra-masculine image presents itself as attractive, if the guy is just a rock with no hidden surprises or any personality wow factors behind that tough face, then he's a goner. However, when it's a male, he finds it annoying when other men are weak. Thus, I think it's ironic, but in some aspects men are placing this stereotype upon themselves.
Stereotyes today about men usually are based on whether or not they can "get a girl" or be "tough". Of course there are the few exceptions where guys are not really judged by their friends or others and are just liked for who they are....but most of the time we stereotype them because they're either too "dorky" or "geeky" or "jerkish". However, while we do this at the same time we still what a man that is smart and sensitive. Therefore, it's ironic that we idealize the perfect man as a man who is a "knight and shining armor" but really only are interested in those who are not.
In Chaucer’s prologue he describes a more sensitive man, symbolized by the knight who was kind, courteous, and chivalrous. I think that this is a better description of a man than the Beowulf description in which the idolized man exhibits virtues of strength, money, honor, and gets women. The description of a knight seems to be much better description of man and was moving in the right direction, but today, the stereotype of a man is moving back to the Beowulf version of a man.
Today, the stereotype of a man is the big strong guy who makes a lot of money and sleeps around. Today, stereotypes of men range from a musician being gay to corporate owners who have slept with every woman in the building. These stereotypes are a regression from the chivalry era back toward Beowulf. In all reality, it could be the exact opposite, and every known stereotype could be wrong. Football players don’t have to be tough, they could be sensitive, these stereotypes should be broken and society today should move back to that of the Knights era and beyond.
One thing that I've noticed about stereotypes today is that the people using them are often very hypocritical. For example, guys call other guys for doing things that they don't consider normal, and yet are they really sissies for that? There sticking to what they believe in and they do what they want to, so is that really sissy? The morals and priorities of some people today are really mixed up, but there's not much you can do about it.
As for progressing towards a Knighthood loving society, or a Beowulf loving society, it's up in the air. Movies and media tell us "men" to be Beowulf like figures, and yet we are encouraged to break down that manly wall and open up to people in other situations. Instead of worrying about society and where its going, focus on yourself first. Who do i want to be? Do I want to be a manly Beowulf like man, or a more open, sensitive kind of guy? Once you get past that stage, then you can worry about society.
I think it is just important for people to be true to themselves and be of upstanding character and values. Chivalry is important in deep relationships and life in general. It is a general respect. It should not just be a "means to an end". It should be part of a relationship because there is a real connection there that the chivalry is part of and an extension of.
The balance is what is important. Everyone is an individual with unique and special personality traits, ideas, and feelings. However, no one should try to be the 2-D, stereotypical knight just for the sake of being one. The same goes for the 2-D, stereotypical "gay squire". Stereotypes form from some typical and "everyday" views of certain types of people. That's where humor comes from. But it doesn't mean people HAVE to fit in that stereotype. Many times they don't.
I think it is just important for people to be true to themselves and be of upstanding character and values. Chivalry is important in deep relationships and life in general. It is a general respect. It should not just be a "means to an end". It should be part of a relationship because there is a real connection there that the chivalry is part of and an extension of.
The balance is what is important. Everyone is an individual with unique and special personality traits, ideas, and feelings. However, no one should try to be the 2-D, stereotypical knight just for the sake of being one. The same goes for the 2-D, stereotypical "gay squire". Stereotypes form from some typical and "everyday" views of certain types of people. That's where humor comes from. But it doesn't mean people HAVE to fit in that stereotype. Many times they don't.
I think that the male knight of the medieval era was equal in physical strength to the coarse Anglo- Saxon hero of Beowulf, but he is wiser and more intelligent than the Anglo- Saxon. Today, the appreciation of amore sensitive male figure depends on the region or the family environment which a boy is raised in. For example, in a region of the country in which hunting and other quite brutal sports are endorsed and considered a part of leisure time for every person, then boys would likely be encouraged to pursue more physical, rather than intellectual, hobbies, and the qualities of strength and power would be emphasized more strongly than, for instance, the ability to understand complex mathematical equations. Moreover, in a household where gender did not define the roles of family members, a boy might be raised to pursue less stereotypically masculine interests. Thus, as a contemporary Western society, we still stereotype men as strong and more capable than women; yet, gradually, our views on the sensitivity of men have changed since the medieval era to be more appreciative of men who are less physically strong more so than they are wise and intellectually strong.
I believe that men are expected to be a "Beowulf" once in a while. Most of the time he is encouraged by his father to be as manly as possible. A huge influence of being a "Beowulf" would be the media. The media shows advertisements of "bad boys" that have no limits and live the free life. Movies such as "Sin City," and "The Punisher" are good examples of this stereotype of a man.
But the media has also encouraged the "sissy" type too. The jewelry store ads show men tripping over his feet over a woman, and movies like "Sleepless Seattle" is about a great love affair. I think that we have gone in both directions in terms of men being the "knights in shining armor" or a emotionless, muscle brain. It cannot be determined whether the public favors one stereotype over the other.
Our society definitely has become more accepting of those who are homosexual, there are no questions about that. I mean look, Milk just came out in theaters and is doing incredibly well! But I’ve got to say that we still totally mock the whole “gay” idea frequently. Look at Family Guy, the Simpsons, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.—all have had their jokes and have helped pushed stereotypes. It’s almost impossible nowadays to imagine a gay as anything but an ostentatious, high-pitched, fashionista. If you hear someone being called gay and you DON’T immediately picture Clay Aiken or a Queer Eye alum, I congratulate you. Just recently, I met a great guy who could have been mistaken for a homosexual just because he was a little flamboyant with his actions. Sure enough, when people found out he did ballet and gymnastics, he was titled “gay.” Sorry, but that’s ridiculous! I think it’s so funny how people see that stuff as gay, but fail to realize that most male models are gay because they just seem “too manly.” People fail to recognize truck drivers, bikers, pilots, and construction workers can also be gay.
Ok, so I know I just proved my idea false, but I’m not saying all people are like this! There are a few (mostly guys might I add) that label guys as “queer” because they are sensitive or feminine and some do isolate those who are homosexual, but when compared to past generations, I feel we are incredibly tolerant and accepting of people with different orientations. It can only get better from here!
I think the most important thing to say about this is that a lot of the male ideals are starting to regress back to a Beowulf-like character. From the male perspective, being the best and strongest is essentially the ultimate goal, and the people who perpetually "lose" are considered inferior. As negative as this might seem, it's only natural; from an evolutionary standpoint, the best and brightest were the only ones who survived, and I don't think that mentality is ever going to disappear entirely. The best way to deal with it is to individualize your goals. If a man concentrates on his own goals and tries to be the best at those, then he meets the basic desire to succeed while still avoiding the kind of barbaric "Beowulf" mode.
Even though men still value the winners, I think that, from the female perspective, the "squire" is becoming more appealing. It's not like the Anglo-Saxon times when the warrior could just take whatever woman he wanted; today, I think there is a much greater emphasis on personality and intelligence, which says that we're going somewhere.
I believe that the Medieval sensitive, "fresh as May" squire was a slightly drastic reaction to the stoic, insensitive, battle hungry Beowulf type men of the Anglo-Saxon times. Instead of fighting for their personal glory, medieval knights fought for more chivalrous reasons, and their opponents were equally matched. Instead of taking women for granted (and even singing songs about raping them...thank you Beowulf the movie) knights and squires practiced courtly love, and believed that they were never good enough for the women they loved. The Medieval people I think we very fed up with the Beowulf like image of men that they turned to valuing the complete opposite qualities in men. Today I think that instead of favoring either extreme, we as a society have found a balance in what we expect in a man. We think that men need to be manly (you know...fall down and get back up, play sports, and not back down from a fight) but also sensitive and protective towards women and children. Today we idolize the man that displays the Beowulf ultra masculine image as well as the picture of the "fresh as May" squire in a perfect balance.
Today, we seem to have accepted the "different". Whether they're "knights" or "squires", it doesn't really matter. Yes, people may have their own opinions on different types of people, but generally speaking, everyone is accepted.
We do have stereotypes today about men, but they all differ from one another. One may think that a more sensitive guy is okay compared to someone else who doesn't find it okay. One may want a guy who is just like Beowulf, while another would hate that. Others may want a mix or balance between these types. This just shows that society isn't choosing just one side. We all have mixed views and is accepting different types of people. We aren't just choosing the "Beowulfs", "knights", or the "squires". There's a balance between all of them. We're idolizing all not just one.
The change in time (like many people said) does affect everyone's views of men (sensitive vs. warrior). Back in the Anglo-Saxon times, the Beowulf warrior was the new manly-man, but as time progressed, the more sensitive, honorable man became the new manly-man. Today, the more "manly-man" rests within whoever possesses the more aggressive warrior-like qualities, while the sensitive types become inferior (as steph said). Regardless, these two types of men are cateogorized and stereotyped. The more sensitive male character exemplified in Chaucer's works I think is better than the Beowulf character. This is because the knight/squire characters are honored more and have the best of both worlds when it comes to the balance between sensitivity and a little more of a rugged side. In today's world, a sensitive person has it better over a more macho person because the stereotypes prohibit the more macho person to show a little sensitivity unlike the sensitive person (they can be a little more "manly" because that is what is better accepted).
In my opinion, we have definitely regressed as a society. Although progress has come a long way and men are able to get away with things that they couldn’t do ten years ago, is still think that to the medieval standards described by Chaucer, we have gone backwards. It is unfortunate to say that today Beowulf type men are idolized rather than the brave knight with is manors. I know first hand from being a male in high school that you will earn a much higher social status sleeping with multiple girls rather than having one girlfriend who you respect and treat as an equal; which is an unfortunate thing in our society,
On second thought however I always tend to hear a lot from girls in particular that chivalry is dead. The always angers me for two reason’s because one; it is not dead girls just chose not to see it, and two; while it may not be dead it is dieing and males are not killing it but females. Chivalry is a very delicate balance code and cannot coincide with feminism which seems to be growing and growing. Now day’s some women are offended when men perform curious duties for them because to these women it implies that they themselves are incapable of doing so. How can a man perform a simple act of chivalry in this day in age without at the same time qualifying as a chauvinist?
Ok I’m back again because I was just reading though the comments on what other people were saying and I’ve had a little thought; I kind of agree with Angela on how today’s society really isn’t centered around either a Anglo-Saxon male or a knight male but I think it really depends on age and class. For example, males have different standards depending on how rich or how poor they are. It seems that older, educated, and wealthier tend to focus on a male with manors and for this male it is alright to be in touch with his “feminine” side but for men from a poorer rougher background there is a different standard.
Today, we have definitely regressed back to Beowulf ideals. Men are stereotyped as gay or weak for not having outward physical strength. The "squires" of today are shunned and ostracized for something that was so looked up to in the Middle Ages. Just like in Beowulf's Time, today, men feel the need to prove their masculinity through actions and rituals that mean very little in the long run. If anything they feel they have to appear "stupid" to be cool and accepted. If we can go from Beowulf's male ideal to the chivalrous knights' and back again, will we one day again look for the "knights" and "squires" instead of Beowulf, or will men be stereotyped in a completely new light?
Oops, this logging in thing is very confusing, the last one is by me, Kim Neco!!
Sorry!!
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