Women As Peace-Weavers In Old English Literature

Starting with a survey of Anglo-Saxon women's living situations and historical background, this thesis studies women as peace-weavers in Old English literary works —Genesis B, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Wife's Lament and Beowulf, and comes to the conclusion that most of these peace-weavers are doomed to fail in their efforts to weave peace inside their families or between tribes.This thesis is composed of six parts:The Introduction expounds the significance of the study of women as peace-weavers in Old English literature, and presents a brief survey of this research topic together with the originality and limitation of this study.Chapter 1 presents the historical background of Anglo-Saxon women's life and rights. Besides cooking, washing and child-bearing, Anglo-Saxon women also served as cloth-makers, cup-servers and warriors. Although Anglo-Saxon women were still socially inferior, they did enjoy a great measure of freedom and rights in their marriage and social life.Chapter 2 examines Eve in Genesis B. Eve is depicted as a peace-weaver who usurps her husband's role out of anxiety to maintain peace between God and Adam. Although Eve's efforts fail, her later action of weaving leaves to make garments repays for her sin to some degree. Eve can be regarded as an archetype of Anglo-Saxon peace-weavers who are doomed to fail.Chapter 3 examines the exiled peace-weavers in two Anglo-Saxon frauenlieder— Wulf and Eadwacer and The Wife's Lament. The two women narrators' grieves arecaused by men who have abandoned or punished them. Both figures have failed as types of Anglo-Saxon peace-weavers.Chapter 4 examines two queens as peace-weavers in Beowulf— Hildeburh andWealhtheow. Conventionally, peace-weavers should keep their mouths close and be wise. Queen Hildeburh who keeps absolute silence is a good example of this type of peace-weaver. Her speechlessness is a sign of her powerlessness in her peace-weaving mission. But King Hrothgar's queen Wealhtheow is an exception with her eloquence in words. As women's powerful weapon against violence, speech is fully exerted by Wealhtheow to defend her sons. But her temporary success cannot change her final fallen fate as a peace-weaver.The Conclusion proposes that the unforgettable and unforgivable blood feuds between tribes and women's subordinate situations make Anglo-Saxon women as peace-weavers doomed to failure.