The Role Of Women Through The Ages - 901 Words

Robert Rinderknecht Engl 2322 Anglo Saxon Heckelman Apr. 27th 2015 The Role of Women through the Ages Historical timepieces give readers a glimpse into the lifestyles of humans through the ages. Many customs are still in force where others are long forgotten. One of these customs that is seen with a slow progression is the role of women. The key question to ask is are women in these poems active equals of the men or are they passive victims of the men. The roles of the women in Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, and Utopia are not always stereotyped as a passive homemaker, child bearer and peace weaver, but sometimes giving freedom of choice, range of activity, and room for personal growth and development. This freedom becomes more apparent as time passes by with very little in Beowulf, to a much more accepted form in Utopia. Beowulf is an epic tale written in the 7th century. In the poem, only a few female characters are introduced that possess unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong quiet individuals, who have very simple tasks. However, they are considered property and have very little freedoms of choice where patriarchal society is dominating. Such as Wealhtheow, when she is first introduced, she is portrayed as a gracious hostesses of the mead halls filling the cups for the men.. Wealhtheow is Hrothgar s queen and the mother of his two sons. Wealhtheow portrays the role of a traditional woman for the time period. While, the views on women mayShow MoreRelatedWomens Role in the Bronze Age804 Words   |  4 Pagesreveal about the role of women in the late bronze age? The Late Bronze Age is filled with women who took their functions within the home and turned them into positions of power and wisdom, making their husbands and masters comprehend their importance. The role of w omen in the Late Bronze Age can be studied by reviewing how women are portrayed in art, literature and artefacts that archaeologists have found. 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