Author Bio: Jaufre Rudel (died around 1147 CE) - Rudel, a slightly ambiguous character in the middle ages, contributed to the citizens remodeled view of women and their role in society. Since he was not a very prominent character in the middle ages, historians can only vaguely account for his lifespan and whereabouts. As for his occupations, he acted as the prince of Baye and a troubadour, but his most notable benefaction were his poems. Only seven lasted through the years, but they present the new wave of thinking that took the middle ages by storm.
Speaker: Rudel: see previous description above,
Date/Context: This time period (about 1100 CE) is best characterized by the struggle to define woman's role in society. Some still believed that women were vices of the devil and they used tempting tactics to spread evil. However, the greater push at this time gave women more respect and sometimes a higher level of authority than men. This movement was significantly catalyzed by the age of chivalry, where knights fought for the woman waiting for them on a pedestal. For instance, the knights of the crusades defended their lands to protect the women that stayed in England. These women were their “faithful” love afar.
Summary: In this short poem, Rudel takes on the persona of a common knight who is away in battle thinking about his woman waiting at home. He fantasizes about seeing her and proposing to her. Then he shows the reader that he believes his fantasies are just fantasies, because it is god's will for him to never return. He does not even know if she loves him, but he does not want to give up on loving her because she is his motivation to keep on fighting. In the end of the passages, he begs god to change his destiny and the ways of traditional life. He is angry that god as made love and honor so difficult to maintain because he feels that he can’t have both.
Key Quotations:
- “I shall not see her, for her land and mine are sundered, and the ways are hard to find, so many ways, and I shall lose my way. So wills it god”
- “God curse him among men- That I should love and not till I be dead, be loved again.”
That was an interesting read Lara. It's pretty mind-blowing that women were thought to be vices of the devil created to spread evil. Despite that, It seems as though during the middle ages women were slowly trying to gain more respect, even though the concept of chivalry may have set them back a step. In the poem, it looks like Rudel makes a point of portraying the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers fighting in wars, and how all they really want in the end is to be happy and at peace.
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