Thursday, August 24, 2006

on the death of chivalry...


meant to write this entry earlier, but kept slipping my mind. Read a letter in the Straits Times Forum last Saturday (19 Aug), on why a reader has chose to stopped being chivalrous. The main gist was that after years of being "chivalrous" to the fairer sex, he decided to call it quits, because the other party usually do not appreciate the gesture, by saying "Thank you".


I was so tickled by the content, because the idea of expecting something in return for being helpful and kind, just don't rub off with me. While it certainly would be nice to get some sort of appreciation, it would just plain misses the point if we go around helping other people just to get an ego-boost or wanting to have people thank us back.


well, should stop harping on the guy's letter. He can choose to think that way. To end off, let's take a look at what the definition of "chivalry" is...


---------------------------------------------------------------


chiv·al·ry  [ shvl-r ]
n. pl. chiv·al·ries




  1. The medieval system, principles, and customs of knighthood.

  2. a. The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women. b. A manifestation of any of these qualities.

  3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen.


 





[Middle English chivalrie, from Old French chevalerie, from chevalier, knight ; see chevalier.]


Word History: The Age of Chivalry was also the age of the horse. Bedecked in elaborate armor and other trappings, horses were certainly well dressed, although they might have wished for lighter loads. That the horse should be featured so prominently during the Age of Chivalry is etymologically appropriate, because chivalry goes back to the Latin word caballus, "horse, especially a riding horse or packhorse." Borrowed from French, as were so many other important words having to do with medieval English culture, the English word chivalry is first recorded in works composed around the beginning of the 14th century and is found in several senses, including "a body of armored mounted warriors serving a lord" and "knighthood as a ceremonially conferred rank in the social system." Our modern sense, "the medieval system of knighthood," could not exist until the passage of several centuries had allowed the perspective for such a conceptualization, with this sense being recorded first in 1765.

(From http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/c/c0311300.html)

1 comment:

  1. Good for you (thump thump)!! I'm so proud of your graciousness. And THANK YOU for all the useful info. thank you thank you thank you

    ReplyDelete