Women are meant to be seen but not heard, as decreed by man for generations. However, in medieval literature a shift can be observed. This shift is the beginning of the redefinement of women and their role in society. Literature served to establish a standard that women were meant to follow. Women who failed to abide to the restricting mold, were ultimately useless. This duality can be observed by the female characters in Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales. In medieval literature, only women confined to men are of any worth and those unconfined pose a threat to male-dominated society.
Beowulf illustrates the parallel between an extremely confined and unconfined woman. The woman in Beowulf confined to her expectations brings peace and joy, whereas the unconfined female causes chaos and catastrophe. Welthow serves as an excellent…show more content… She is used as a political tool and object of beauty in many ways. To the feasting Danes, she represents the state of the kingdom, which she portrays as calm and controlled. Welthow serves the warriors in the mead-hall and feels blessed that her hands have been allowed “the happy duty of offering mead to a hero” as respected as Beowulf. She remains loyal to her king and embodies the characteristics of the ideal female accessory; who always stands “[at] his side” and abides to his rules. As “a noble woman who knew what was right,” Welthow has clearly accept her role as Hrothgar’s queen and is seemingly content with her confinement (334-335). Therefore she poses no threat to society and exemplifies how a medieval woman should behave. Contrasting Welthow’s restricted nature, Grendel’s mother serves as a superb example of an unconfined woman, whose insubordinance to a male-dominated society causes loss of femininity. The “female monster” partakes in strictly male acts, such as revenge and combat (27). By avenging her son, Grendel’s
