Seductive Powers of Women in the Medieval Era Essay Example for Free

Seductive Powers of Women in the Medieval Era Essay Women of the medieval genre employed sexual prowess to manipulate and gain control of their men. This was their only means of power in an otherwise powerless role as a female. Chaucer and de France portray in their poems the female’s struggle for power and dominance in relationships and the use of sexuality to achieve that goal. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue exploits a woman’s endeavor for power over men and the wicked measures she employs. The wife, the protagonist of The Wife of Bath’s Prologue, bragged of her successful manipulation resulting in having had five husbands. This power of persuasion, also noted in The Canterbury Tales General Prologue, â€Å"Of remedies of love she knew parchaunce, For she coude of that at the olde daunce,† which exclaims the wife’s familiarity with the art of love. (477, 478) The character of the wife used powerful seduction as the main means of manipulation, but she also beguiled them into guilt in order to get what she wanted from them. Ultimately, as depicted in by the wife’s own admission, â€Å"Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce, Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (403,404), it was in the bedroom where she wielded her best feats, teasing them and refusing to bring them to sexual satisfaction until they promised to give into her plea for money- a cunning way in which she made her men submissive. Chaucer depicts the wife as a feminist character who is debauching in one sense, yet she contradicts that very essence by only having sex with her husbands when she wanted money from them. Ironically, she confesses to being the fondest of, and loving only her fifth husband, whom she could not control. The fifth husband, some 20 years younger, satirically reverses roles of the wife and her previous husbands by using the same manipulative schemes on her that she previously used on other men. Husband number five dominates the wife and alludes to her that he is aware of her wicked ways by reading to her from a book of stories of the most wicked, deceitful wives in history. Even though husband number five demonstrated more control over her than any of her previous husbands, she still managed to use her sexual talents to convince him to sign over his estate to her. Not only did Chaucer suggest the use of sexual temptations as tools for women used to obtain power in their domain, Marie de France also hinted to a similar use of sexuality in Lanval. de France’s Lanval depicts analogous use of beauty and sexuality by the queen as she seduced the protagonist, Lanval. Lanval was the object of a different seductress, one with the power of royalty. The queen used words of love along with her beauty and body to manipulate and seduce Lanval, evoking the pathos of love in him. Because of her position as queen, she demanded secrecy of her adulterous affair, which served as her means of control over Lanval. He had no choice but to agree to her demand of silence if he desired more favors from her. He eventually rejected her, which in turn infuriated her, therefore subjecting him to her bitter wrath as she sought to ruin him in an attempt to lessen the pain of rejection. In this poem the seductress doesn’t desire money, for she had all that she needed, but nonetheless she used her sexuality to obtain her desire, which is in this case was sex with Lanval. Sweet seduction manifested by soft-spoken, sweet words of love along with lust for the female body have lured men into the manipulative ways of women for centuries. Women have sought the dominance they so desired over their men with the only means of power they’ve had – and with much success. The works of Chaucer and deFrances illustrate the desire women have had for power throughout the ages.

Graduation Speech: Enjoy the Journey :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Sitting in the backseat of the car, I used to bombard my family with these questions. On our summer road trips I was so anxious for the destination that I failed to appreciate the journey. However, as time passed and I grew older, I realized that it was the journey that was important and not the destination. For the past 13 years of our education we have been on a journey - a journey full of experiences, challenges and accomplishments. We have made it through elementary, middle and high school. It hasn't always been what we expected and certainly not easy, but as we progressed down the road, we stretched ourselves to reach across barriers and found ourselves in new and expanding roles. We were given the opportunity to explore our interests and discover what really excites us. We have become more independent and complete individuals. Our growth and self-discovery has placed us here tonight. Tonight we stand at a crossroad where each one of use will take a new direction in our life's journey. Walt Whitman said "Not I - not anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it for yourself." Where we end up isn't the most important decision, but instead it is the road we choose to take to get there. The road we take is what we will look back on and call our life. Life is a journey of everyday experiences, teaching us moment in, moment out, who we really are. It's important to remember these words "Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late." And so we find ourselves ready and eager to move on. We take with us the strength and knowledge we've gained through our interactions, encounters, challenges and accomplishments at school and at home with parents, teachers and friends. Remember life is not a race but a journey to be enjoyed each step of the way. I leave you with these words from the mountain climber John Amatt: "Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the sides of a mountain.

Family of Woodstock, Inc. Essay

The Family of Woodstock is more than a gate away for teens and young adults; it’s the exact opposite. As an interviewee for the upcoming position here at the organization, I would like to give you my full appreciation and knowledge or reasoning as to why I applied. When looking for which organization I should apply for after getting my degree in human service, I was leaning to helping those young people of our nation. After reading and learning what this organization has to offer for the young adolescents who are in need, as well as the young adult I felt that this is where I need to provide my skills. Here is a little bit of what amazed me and what I appreciated the most about this organization. Preparing an organization is hard, understanding the needs of others, and what they possess is more difficult unless one has a heart for it. The Family of Woodstock organization began when the founders found several factors that led them to create such an inspirational organization. From learning and understanding exactly why young teens and adults decide to escape from the confines of their world. Once the problem is recognized, there were reasons to plan an organization that would help provide such needs and materials. Some of the issues they go through such as sleeping in parking lots, hitchhiking, seeking out food, as well as clothing. This led the founders to provide materials and ensure that the rights to these materials. The organization specializes in meeting the needs of the communities around them who may be in need. Looking back through the history of Family of Woodstock, one can see the multiple areas where this organization has offered services for over forty years. Since 1970, there have been a twenty-four-hour hotline setup clients to call in and get immediate support. We can see the changes that have been going on within this organization. Helping those seek help with drug and substance abuse issues, as well as trying to seek funding from the county drug commission. Medical services start to become established, as well as the free store. The Family of Woodstock has offered services each year to the main issues that are an ongoing struggle faced by the individuals in the communities close to them. The main issues they help with are emergency housing, domestic violence victims, helping teen runaways, and the homeless. There are walk-in facilities that the Family of Woodstock does  meet the immediate needs of Ulster County. When Family of Woodstock began their beliefs and values started with helping the young people who were coming to the little town of Woodstock. However, many people did not feel that it was their problem or necessity to help those because they believed it was not Woodstock’s responsibility. Nevertheless, as more and more volunteers started helping, Family of Woodstock started to come together. The volunteers are what made Family of Woodstock as successful as they are today. The main volunteer group was called the Soft Landing Machine, which helped those who were substance abusers. They spent time with those who were drug users, as well as talk with them and visit. As of today, the volunteers and employees are what make Family of Woodstock, along with the diverse backgrounds, experience, and interests, but one thing they share are common values. The Family of Woodstock has branched into different directions but has primarily stayed on the same path it was founded on. That path is helping and providing those in need with the easiest ways to get the proper assistance needed to solve their problems without doing it for them. Families of Woodstock’s doors are always open to anyone who is in need without being judged. The organization has opportunities for staffers and volunteers who are trained to help troubled individuals feel welcomed and feel comfortable. The way Family of Woodstock has developed over the last forty years comes down to them working harder than ever by providing the services that are needed without too much change. Helping others within their community and see the difference that they are making and the opportunities for others to join the Family, so they can help support others as well. All human services organizations go through some changes, but as they go through these changes, the organizations will see what works better for them as times and society have change. As long as they keep going with their founding motto and the straight path of helping those in need there is nothing wrong with a little change to improve services. Human services professionals share a common goals and values when wanting to help improve one’s life, rather than the economic well-being of an individual and the families that they serve. While most human services programs serve different clients and offer different services, most clients have many issues and needs that require them to seek out several different services. However, as human services develop programs to help service the clients, we must  remember that there should be several other services looked at for their treatments. When specializing in human services delivery we need to be aware of what major issues are causing the suffering in today’s society and what are the minor issues. This goes to say that specialization of any human service delivers has become a trend throughout the profession. The reason is because as professionals they understand what issues families and individuals go through because of their experiences or knowledge. In conclusion, Family of Woodstock has helped many human services organizations become specialized in helping. With the knowledge and understanding, as well as the importance of helping others, Family of Woodstock has become an organization that has lasted for over forty years based on what is important to them. Their values have not changed over the years, but they have expanded their knowledge of how to help those who are in need. The Family of Woodstock has continued to grow and evolve so they can reach as many of those who are suffering alone. References Burger, W. R. (2011). Human services in contemporary America (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Gibbons, A. (2010). Family of Woodstock turns 40. Retrieved from http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20100808/family-of-woodstock-turns-40

My Reading And Writing Skills - 1484 Words

I was terrified walking into my third attempt at Engl 1010 this semester. I attempted and failed this class twice already so I was worried about what was to come, more failing grades, more difficult papers to write, and more confusion. I wrote about this concern in my Literacy Narrative assignment. I realized for the first time my easy high school years had hurt me academically, and that as a college freshman, my reading and writing skills were at an eighth grade level. I tried, but was unable to keep up with the other students. I was a homeschooled, seventeen year old, lost in this world of learning, surrounded mainly by students who came from private schools all over the country. (Literacy Narrative 7?) I had no writing skills beyond the eighth grade and college level writing was foreign to me. In my previous classes, It was assumed everyone knew the basics, but I didn t. This English course has taught me so much about myself, my writing abilities, and that I can overcome obstacle s and excel. The assigned readings helped me understand what was expected, my professor went out of her way to make sure I understood the assignment, and I am leaving this class with literacy skills I thought I would never have. I knew if my professor did not start this class with the basics, I would fail, once again. My professor was wonderful when taking time to review the basics of writing at a college level. The majority of the class thought this was boring and repetitive, but forShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Reading And Writing As A Person848 Words   |  4 Pagesthe different skills a person has. As human beings our curiosity starts evolving more and more, but what are the two most important skills that we all carry and progress? The two most important skills are reading and writing. 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By taking English 3010 courses, I could realize that, even though I have gained many skills from English 1020 course, it wasn’t enough and I certainly needed to learn more. English 3010 was a course designed to test student’s skill on three major areas: writing, reading, and researching, and more importantlyRead MoreEssay about Important Language Skills1735 Words   |  7 PagesImportant Language Skill Out of the Four Language Skills Communication plays a vital role in our daily life. To acquire good communication, command on four language skills is important i.e. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. I studied a few articles in which the authors specified the significance of each language skill. They found a strong positive relation between the four skills and stated that none of these is complete without the other. 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