A feminist analysis of Perceval, Tristan and Isolt, and Aucassin and Nicolette Currently, there is debate among feminists as to whether the humiliating depiction of women in popular media causes or is caused by negative attitudes in modern culture. A similar debate exists among late medieval historians as to whether the rise in popularity of the cult of the Virgin, its depiction in art, and the code of chivalry was caused by or was caused by a change attitude towards women. The Middle Ages coincided with the creation of an entirely new role for women: contact with the Muslim world in Spain, the growing popularity of religious life, and the aforementioned cultural changes. All these factors are closely linked to the new attitudes that have emerged towards women. Virginity is exalted, femininity is praised, courtly love makes women objects of devotion rather than objects of desire. In short, women have been placed on a pedestal. The cultural paradox of this change in attitude is that by being placed on this pedestal, women have become objects rather than individuals. This dichotomy between respect for women as a group and respect for women individually appears clearly in three medieval novels. Perceval, Tristan et Isolt, Aucassin et Nicolette may vary greatly in plot, tone and style, but the underlying premise is the same. In medieval romance, women may be objects of devotion, but they are still only objects earned, possessed, and dominated. The first example of this attitude is the saga of the young lady whom Perceval rudely attacks. This woman, never named, is totally enslaved and mistreated by men. Perceval, ignoring her protests, forces her into a compromising situation and then steals... middle of paper... the group is Muslim. The Christian king of Biaucaire, on the other hand, does not respect his right to self-determination. The Muslim roots of Nicolette's relative freedom provide an answer to the question of whether this literature is a derivative of culture or whether it shaped culture. From this evidence, it appears that the first hypothesis is true. The pervasiveness of oppressive attitudes demonstrated in these texts clearly demonstrates the dichotomous view of women in the late Middle Ages. Respect for femininity, so central to the chivalric code, did not translate into greater freedom for women themselves. Modern opponents of feminism argue that the women's movement reversed this dichotomy, that individual freedoms devalued women as a group. Maybe we should ask ourselves why our culture has trouble valuing femininity and valuing women at the same time..