Small Sound of the Trumpet

but even so, it was a male world. As Labarge states: "To talk about women in medieval life is to deal with their activities at a period when, as one historian has phrased it, 'women were confronted with the closed ranks of a masculine society governed by a thoroughly masculine theology and a morality made for men by men'" (xi).

However, Labarge qualifies that statement by mentioning the realities of everyday existence: "All men had mothers; some had

daughters for whom they cared; and many had wives who either shared in their work, or even took over their responsibilities when they were absent" (xi). Consequently, the feminine presence was always there, although it may have been subordinate to the male world. Labarge is quite fair about the situation and is not an overly militant feminist. She speaks well of both sexes when they deserve it. Christianity tended to defuse the masculine bias, for Labarge reminds us that Christ said the souls of men and women were equal. On the other hand, the Old Testament and Greek and Roman philosophy showed women as inherently inferior. Thus, Christianity brought a more equal image of women to masculine society.

Labarge believes that theory and reality are two diffe

. . .
from its after-effects, though it is, as always, difficult to provide statistics" (23). Royalty was sometimes bestowed upon women. There were some famous queens back in the Middle Ages. As Labarge states: "The best-known of all medieval queens is unquestionably Eleanor of Aquitaine, the headstrong heiress to the rich, powerful, and extensive duchy of Aquitaine, who was successively queen of France and of England" (50). She was the mother of Richard I and King John. Because she was the heiress of Aquitaine (about half of Southern France), England claimed possession of the region. This brought forth 400 years of war between France and England. She supported the rebellion of her sons against Henry II, for which she was imprisoned. After Richard ascended the throne, he released his mother. When Richard went on his crusade, Eleanor protected his interests against John. Later, she reconciled the brothers and continued to be politically important during John's reign. Besides the queens, there were noble ladies. They included princesses, viscountesses, and countesses. Labarge states: "Their lives remind us that noble society in the Middle Ages was not totally masculine, though most married women could only display their f
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Approximate Word count = 1215
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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