Knights in Training by Heather Haupt

Author:Heather Haupt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2017-05-10T14:52:39+00:00

PERHAPS NOTHING COMMUNICATES CHIVALRY more than the ideas behind how a man treats a woman. The roots for this run deep within history.

The chivalric code called knights to a higher purpose. They viewed themselves as protectors and defenders. The very way they carried themselves and how they treated others immediately set them apart from the average man.

The Kitchen Knight, one of my favorite picture books, tells the story of Gareth of Orkney, nephew to King Arthur. He arrived at Camelot and served in the kitchen for a year before partially revealing himself and setting out with a grand lady, Lady Linette, on a quest to free her sister from the captivity of a rogue knight. This proud woman was mortified that a mere kitchen boy would be assigned to rescue her sister. She treated him with contempt and utter rudeness. Through it all he kept his cool, despite her continued taunts and belittling demands that he flee to save his own life. When he remained respectful yet steadfast, she broke, ashamed of her behavior because she recognized his true greatness. He did not waver or badger her back. He also did not abandon the quest but stuck by his word. In everything he carried himself with inner strength and even showed quiet respect when none was deserved. Lady Linette responded, “What manner of man are you! Never did a woman treat a knight so shamefully as I have you, and you have always answered me courteously. Only a man of noble blood would do so.”

This is a common thread seen within medieval literature. A knight (or noble lady) was recognized not by what they wore or who they declared themselves to be but by how they conducted themselves around others. There was a dignity and a respect for themselves as well as for others that set them apart.

As we challenge our boys in their quest to become modern-day knights we want to instill in them the habits of treating others, especially the women in their lives, with love, respect, and courtesy.

There is a popular saying that goes, “Being male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of age. But being a gentleman is a matter of choice.”* Our desire is to make this choice of gentlemanly behavior such an ingrained habit that it becomes second nature. Aristotle called this habituating virtue.*

Everyone recognizes the problems we have with how men and women relate to one another these days. We have lost that mutual respect. We do not change this unfortunate reality by reacting according to how we are treated, but rather with how we ought to treat one another. When my children bicker, I frequently remind them that it takes two to fight and one to start making progress toward peace. Just like our boys have the opportunity to embrace the power of one when standing against injustice or protecting the weak, they can lead the way in creating an atmosphere in which men and women respect one another.

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