Women are often prominent characters in medieval literature, although they all tend to fill a similar plot role in each tale, whether it is as a wife, a witch, a temptress, or a wise old hag. One of the roles that is less represented is that of the mother. There are many examples of maidens or virgins in various texts during and after the medieval period such as "Judith" and Shakespeare's The Tempest. There are also many representations of the crone or hag in texts such as "The Wife of Bath's Tale" and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These two representations of women are commonplace, so where are the mothers?
Part of a woman's purpose in medieval times, and so in medieval literature, is to extend the man's family line. There was rarely a choice in the matter, so it was assumed that if at all possible, a woman would have children. Other than women who have given birth to famous figures and are included in the tale for mainly that reason, it is often only the women who are unable to have children who are mentioned in connection with the mother figure. Guinevere is an example of this, mainly in expanded Arthurian texts such as The Once and Future King by T.H. White, but it is noted on occasion the fact that she has been able to bear Arthur no children. This is part of her character flaw - she is queen to the greatest king that Britain has ever known, yet she cannot provide him an heir. Her fall to vanity, bitterness and adultery is often partly attributed to her barrenness. It is also possible that she is represented as vain and jealous because she has no children - what use is a woman in medieval times if she cannot bear children? Motherhood is also seen, even today, as a trait that softens a woman's personality and makes her selfless and nurturing, and since Guinevere was denied motherhood, she was denied those traits.
Part of a woman's purpose in medieval times, and so in medieval literature, is to extend the man's family line. There was rarely a choice in the matter, so it was assumed that if at all possible, a woman would have children. Other than women who have given birth to famous figures and are included in the tale for mainly that reason, it is often only the women who are unable to have children who are mentioned in connection with the mother figure. Guinevere is an example of this, mainly in expanded Arthurian texts such as The Once and Future King by T.H. White, but it is noted on occasion the fact that she has been able to bear Arthur no children. This is part of her character flaw - she is queen to the greatest king that Britain has ever known, yet she cannot provide him an heir. Her fall to vanity, bitterness and adultery is often partly attributed to her barrenness. It is also possible that she is represented as vain and jealous because she has no children - what use is a woman in medieval times if she cannot bear children? Motherhood is also seen, even today, as a trait that softens a woman's personality and makes her selfless and nurturing, and since Guinevere was denied motherhood, she was denied those traits.
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