Knights Are Hot, Right?

The Loss of Masculinity in Art

As a student of English I have been hardwired to discover the metaphysical, spiritual, political, personal, or ethereal meaning of the words behind a literary work. This practice is infused into the very fiber of my being and used regardless whether work is poetry, a novel, an epic, short stories, sermons, or letters. I, as a student, am expected to uncover the unknown and mysterious.

I am not doing that today.

Today, we are rallying men to their purpose and watching women when they swoon as we read the Medieval poet, Richard Lovelace’s poem, “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.”

This poem acts as a letter in which a knight writes to his lover explaining why he must leave her side to fulfill his promise, duty, and responsibility as a man.

The poem begins with a compliment; the knight calls his lover pure and honest. He begs her to not think him unkind since he leaves her to wage war. The knight professes this war is akin to chasing after “a new mistress” which he willing embraces with “stronger faith” than he embraced his first lover (Lovelace lines 5-7). He clarifies he leaves her not because his feelings have diminished but because he could not truly love her if he was not willing to first protect her.

He closes this letter stating it would be unchivalrous, disingenuous, and contradictory for him to love her before honor; his love for her must flow out of his ability to honor, protect, and defend her.

“I could not love thee (Dear) so much, / Lov’d I not honour more.” (Lovelace lines 11-12).

Uhm…is it getting hot in here or is that just me?

Read the poem below:

Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkind,
        That from the nunnery
Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind
       To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase,
       The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith embrace
       A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such
      As you too shall adore;
I could not love thee (Dear) so much,
      Lov’d I not Honour more.

This poem exemplifies Biblical masculinity since it follows the leadership structure given to men and women in the New Testament of which husbands should submit to their wives just as Christ submits to the church:

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (English Standard Version, Eph. 5: 20 - 28).

This knight is loving his wife (let us go ahead and assume he is writing to his wife) Biblically as he places his responsibility to protect over fear, his own body, and possible death. Just as Jesus died to protect and defend His Bride, the Christian Church, this knight is willing to protect and defend his love. Moreover, this knight understands this is his role in society and readily expresses his desire to fulfill it.

Loss of Masculinity in Modern Art

For a knight, chivalry is second to drawing a sword, seeking adventure, or slaying a dragon. Writing a poem for his love to profess his heart and logical reason for leaving his love was probably the first thing which came to mind the second he received his marching orders.

And, to be completely honest, it should have been.

Knights knew a thing or two about loving their women correctly. They understood in order to keep a woman they should communicate the responsibility for the role they have in society: to protect, defend, and provide. The way this knight acknowledges this role by stating he could not love his wife had he not loved and acted upon the responsibility he carries in society speaks a lot to the masculinity within Medieval culture. It can also illuminate the decline of masculinity in modern America.

For example, let us compare this poem to the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 list sung by a male vocalist at the current time I am writing this:

My baby want a Birkin, she's been tellin' me all night long
Gasoline and groceries, the list goes on and on
This 9 to 5 ain't workin', why the hell do I work so hard?
I can't worry 'bout my problems, I can't take 'em when I'm gone, uh

Someone pour me up a double shot of whiskey
They know me and Jack Daniels got a history
There's a party downtown near Fifth Street
Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy
Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy
Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy

I've been Boozey since I've left, I ain't changin' for a check
Tell my ma I ain't forget (oh, Lord)
Woke up drunk at 10 am, we gon' do this shit again
Tell your girl to bring a friend (oh, Lord)

Bar Song, Shaboozy, 2024

These lyrics might be the exact opposite of Lovelace’s verses above. The song details the relationship a man has with a woman who wants the world’s most expensive bag (a Birkin) then complains about bills stacking up “gasoline and groceries, the list goes on and on” (Shaboozy lines 1-2). The speaker of the song then enacts his grand plan to provide for his girl and fulfill his role in society, he goes to the bar.

The rest of the song reveals a complete disregard of the speaker’s duty, responsibility, and commitment in favor of debauchery, partying, and drinking.

What is so compelling about these lyrics is not necessarily the illustrations they illicit, it is the attitude the speaker has towards his counterproductive lifestyle. The speaker repeatedly fortifies his staunch belief that his lifestyle choices suits his needs and he will not change, “for a check” because he and “Jack Daniels got a history” and “woke up drunk at 10am” (Shaboozy lines 6, 11, 13). This worldview, which most modern American men follow, is starkly different to the lifestyle of great Medieval knights.

Cessation

There is a loss of noble, valorous, gallant masculinity in American men. And I am not simply talking about basic table manners like opening the door, paying for meals, or offering to drive places, I am referring to true, Biblical masculinity. The kind of masculinity which the Lord innately grants young men, the kind of masculinity which women respond to best, the kind of masculinity which gives men the capacity to thrive, the kind of masculinity which secures the roles of men in society.

In Lovelace’s poem, “To Lucusta, Going to Wars” men are shown the fruit of Biblical masculinity. They are given a vision for what life could be like if they mirrored the knights of old. Choices rooted in honor, love, and sacrifice showcases their potential for success and a joy-filled life. Unlike the modern lyrics recited in the Billboard Top 100 song, Lovelace’s poem will actually help men to provide, protect, and defend just as Jesus does for His Bride.

Here’s a final note to modern American men who want a relationship like Lovelace’s gallant knight: If I, as a young woman, get to choose between a hot, responsible, sweet-talking, knight or an alcohol addict, I am going for the hot knight.

Now go please learn how to be one. <3

Works Cited

“Bar Song.” YouTube, Shaboozy, youtu.be/t7bQwwqW-Hc?feature=shared. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.

Lovelace, Richard. “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44658/to-lucasta-going-to-the-wars. Accessed 17 Oct. 2024.

Tolsen. “Billboard Hot 100TM.” Billboard, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2024, www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/.

“Medieval Fantasy in 2024: Medieval Art, Fairytale Art, Pre Raphaelite Art.” Pinterest, 15 Aug. 2024, www.pinterest.com/pin/21392166972723710/.