Medieval Ballads Essay, Research Paper

There are many mediaeval laies that contain male-female relationships. However,

the laies? Edward? , ? Bonny Barbara Allen? , and? Mattie Groves?

stand out because they all contain untypical male-female relationships. The

similarities the three laies portion in their male-female relationships are: 1 )

there is ever a struggle between the male and the female and 2 ) none of these

relationships are representative of the ideal male-female relationship or

matrimony. Although the male-female relationship in the lay? Edward?

revolves around a female parent and a boy, their relationship is merely every bit convoluted as

the 1s found in the other laies. Edward and his female parent have a tense and

stormy relationship, which is highlighted through their conversations and

interactions with each other. Edward? s tension towards his female parent is shown

through his answers to his female parent? s inquiry? why dois your trade name sae drap

Wisconsin bluid? ? Alternatively of stating her the truth, Edward is at first hesitant and

prevarications to his female parent by stating the blood on his blade is from hawk, and so says

it is really from his Equus caballus. Finally Edward clefts due to his feelings of

guilt and admits to his female parent that he really killed his male parent ( line 21 ) .

Expecting to happen at least some understanding and advice from his female parent, since it

was the female parent who gave Edward the thought of killing his male parent, Edward, alternatively,

is bombarded by a series of inquiries from his female parent. These inquiries make

Edward angry, particularly since one of them is how is Edward traveling to demo

repentance for his actions ( line 25 ) ? Even though it is Edward? s female parent who gives

Edward the thought of slaying his male parent, by interrogating Edward after the

slaying, it is shown that she is clearly the individual in charge of their

relationship since she knows how to pull strings Edward. The relationship between

Edward and his female parent is non an illustration of an ideal male-female relationship, or

a mother-son relationship, since both parties do non demo respect towards the

other. This is particularly highlighted when Edward? s female parent asks Edward what he

will go forth for her since he has to fly his fatherland in order to salvage himself.

To this inquiry Edward answers? The expletive of snake pit frae me shall ye beir, sic

counseils ye gave to me O. ? Additionally, because of the troubled relationship

Edward has with his female parent, Edward appears to handle other females, such as his

married woman, with the same deficiency of regard he shows toward his female parent. When Edward? s

female parent asks him what he will go forth behind for his kids and married woman, Edward

answers nil since the universe is big plenty for them to implore through life

( line 46 ) . The lay? Bon

ny Barbara Allan? presents a male-female

relationship that does non work chiefly because of the obstinacy and

demands of the parties involved. The relationship between Sir John Graeme and

Barbara Allan can be characterized as obstinate since both of them are

headstrong, although Sir Graeme a small less so since he is deceasing. Barbara

Allan is portrayed as being more headstrong because she refuses to admit

the fact that Sir Graeme is deceasing for her love. This is because Barbara Allan is

still mad at Sir Graeme for a past incident, where Sir Graeme slighted her at a

tap house ( lines 13-16 and lines 18-20 ) . Although Sir Graeme and Barbara Allan do

non see oculus to oculus, their relationship is the closest among those of the three

laies to be representative of at least a? normal? male-female

relationship, even if non of an ideal one. Although Barbara Allan does non

proclaim her love for Sir Graeme as Sir Graeme did for her, Sir Graeme still

Tells his friends to? be sort to Barbara Allan? ( line 24 ) . Even though Sir

Graeme slighted Barbara Allan in the yesteryear, Barbara Allan tells her female parent to repair

her casket since? my love died for me to-day, I? ll dice for him to-morrow?

( lines 35-36 ) . These actions show that both of them did esteem, and likely

love each other, even if both of them, particularly Barbara Allan, were loath

in demoing each other how they felt about one another. Among the three

relationships, the relationship between Lord Arlen and his married woman, from the lay

? Mattie Groves? , is the one least like an ideal male-female relationship

because of the high degree of misrepresentation and patriarchy their relationship

involves. The relationship between Lord Arlen and his married woman contains misrepresentation

since Lord Arlen? s married woman is kiping with Mattie Groves, despite the fact she

is married. Furthermore, Lord Arlen? s married woman promises Mattie Groves that Lord

Arlen will non larn about him since she promises to maintain him? out of sight?

( line 22 ) . The relationship between Lord Arlen and his married woman can be characterized

as patriarchal through Lord Arlen? s actions and words. Lord Arlen treats his

married woman as his belongings and non as a individual. Therefore, he tries to do determinations for

her all the clip, which is non ever appreciated by his married woman ( lines 70-75 ) .

Although none of the aforesaid laies contain relationships that are

representative of an ideal male-female relationship, each of these laies are

effectual in portraying the statements of both parties involved. By making so, it

becomes easier for the reader to separate between the rights and wrongs of a

relationship and to place what type of values the people of that clip period

held or should hold held.