Flaws Of Medieval English Society Through Ivanhoe

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AP British Lit. November 4th, 2011 The Flaws of Medieval English Society Since the beginning of the new era of Christ, the English have made their mark on European history and culture. They represent the very foundation of a successful empire, starting from nothing and emerging victorious in creating a civilization that would last throughout empires. After the Norman Invasion of Anglo-Saxon England, the country began to fall into its place as the symbol of romance and chivalrousness of the Middle Ages that people admire greatly today. However, as anyone can see today, that no civilization that is or has been was perfect and flawless. For Medieval England, many atrocities were committed that were either looked past or went by unnoticed, such as the common acceptance of degrading women or the direct prejudice of people of different religions, the people thinking it to be completely normal. For a man of eighteenth century England, Sir Walter Scott was aware of these flaws that plagued the great era we call the Medieval Ages that were still apparent in his time; he decided to reveal them to the general public through his novel, Ivanhoe (Morillo 1). The novel takes place in 12th century England around the end of the Third Crusade, during the rule of the Norman king, Richard the Lion-Hearted. Sir Walter Scott reveals the flaws of Medieval English society through Ivanhoe by expressing the fall of the chivalry code, the corruption of clergy members, the prejudice of the Jewish people, and the feud between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. As the backbone of Medieval England, chivalry was upheld by mostly everyone of the time period, whether a peasant or of noble birth. Chivalry is a code of conduct that all knights must live by, and is made up by honor, loyalty, and justness (Morillo 3). During the time of the Hundred Years War, chivalry was considered dead to

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