Women in Anglo-Saxon England Essay -- English Literature Essays

Women in Anglo-Saxon EnglandAnglo-Saxon books was based on Germanic myths about battles, heroes, diseases, dragons and religion. Writers did not pay much(prenominal) attention to female issues, and there are only few rimes that disgorge about them. Beowulf and The Wifes Lament are twain examples that before long consider womens lives in that time. Anglo-Saxon chronicle and poetry lay out womens lives as uneasy and dependent on their husbands positions. Women had to endure coherent marriage ceremonys, abuse and male dominance. Marriage meant very much to women particularly for their stipulation and economic security. In the medieval era, people wed within their secernate and only a slave could sometimes find his match and wed for true love. Wars and family feuds forced females to play the role of peace-weavers. They were often married to their familys enemy to make a truce between warring tribes. The poem The Wifes Lament is about a woman who, at one time, apparently, was a peace-weaver. The wife and her husband are separated against her volition she feels very unhappy and lonely. The husband has committed a murder and consequently has abandoned her I am overcome with longing. These dales are dark, and hills high, bitter bulwarks invariably grown with briers, a joyless dwelling. Here very often my professionals going away has wrenched me (102). In Anglo-Saxon England, a marriage did not mean happiness or love. It put women in a very tough position since they had to assume the role of peace-weavers and to unite two families that hated one another. In many cases men treated women as sexual objects and did not respect them. In Anglo-Saxon England, there was a law called wergild, which meant man price. When someone got ki... ... is aware of her sexuality and sovereignty over men. I think that her character is controversial even though I think that she is a great woman and deserves credit for her actions.Cita tions Abrams M. H, et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. seventh ed. New York W. Norton & Company, 2000. Fell, Christine. Women in Anglo-Saxon England and the Impact of 1066. Bloomington Indiana University Press, 1984. Catholic Encyclopedia. Online. October 24, 2000. http//www.newadvent.org Harvard University. Online. October 24, 2000. http//www.icg.fas.Harvard Luminarium Organization. Online. October 22, 2000. http//www.britannia.com/history/biographies/guinever.htmlhttp//www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/subjects/women/women.htmlhttp//www.r3.org/life/articles/women.htmlhttp//www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.htmhttp//www.infoplease.com