Analysis Of Courtly Love: Who Needs It? By E. Jane Burns

In the article “Courtly Love: Who Needs It?” by E. Jane Burns, the author establishes what would be considered the quintessential female persona as it appears in medieval literature, particularly in the romance genre. She begins by calling attention to the similarities between the expected mannerisms of women in the structure of courtly love and the modern book The Rules. The text is a self-help guide for women who are looking to attract a husband by employing medieval methods of attraction (Burns 23). It employs outdated strategies to encourage women to become unemotional and disinterested, but also subservient, with anticipation of attaining the unwavering affection of a potential suitor. Thereby perpetuating the well-established “ideology

of femininity” that proves only the dis-empowerment of women in love.
This seems to follow the same dynamic in courtly love as it stands in medieval fiction. Medieval Europe being an extremely patriarchal society, women held little power and were expected to be obedient to men. However, in context of courtly love the gender roles are seemingly reversed. The knight proves his devotion to a woman, thus receiving sentimental gifts, affection and a source of inspiration. While the woman appears to have control over the romance, Burns points out that it was meant to be read metaphorically or symbolism (Burns 39).
Burns also reveals that there appears to be two different types of courtly love in romance literature. The first in which typical roles, traditions and customs are often tested, skewed or weakened and the traditional one in which the man is fueled with the affection or social status from courtship with a woman.
She ultimately argues that courtly love is not fundamentally oppressive, but has a long history, starting from the medieval ages, of offering the chance to end the patriarchal society and develop new ideas and culture (Burns 43). The article “Courtly Love: Who Needs It?” is an exemplary example of the expectations that were placed on women within their sociopolitical positions and how they essentially challenged the status quo.