Is Chivalry Dead?

A friend had asked me, “Is chivalry dead?” In a word, yes.   Yet the answer begins with the question, “if it ever existed.”  If defined as a manor of behavior concerning rules of conduct in war and militaristic codes of honor yeah sure, it’s well documented.  But as for romantic chivalry, how do we know that the concept of such was not merely a fairytale to our ancestors as it is today, similar to peace on earth or natural harmony.  What should, but will never be.
In the dark and Middle Ages stories of chivalrous love may have been a good way of keeping their women chaste as the men went to war.  The women could chew on the romantic notions rather than on the stable boy till their heroes returned.  Shakespeare may have just been the Renaissances most famous porn writer.  Maybe he was so freaking intriguing because it was so fictional.
Let’s just say it had existed.  Since there was a lot less things to distract us, a lot less allegiances to dance around and perhaps a bigger need and effort put forth to keep things interesting.
Your renaissance man, not only would aim to develop his athletic talents, it was common for them to take part in flexing their prose.   For ages one could make a living simply reciting poetry or telling tales.  The wealthy would have contracted artists of all kinds.  This marriage between the artists and wealthy conceived what we consider courtly love and chivalry.  It was created by the conflict between the proper behavior expected by the upper class and the raw passion of the artists.
Of course most of these wealthy people were land owners, those who played with money were looked a little down upon no matter their wealth often accused of usury.  I bring this up because in our present society in which we have a service based economy we have entire industries where people do nothing but play with other peoples money.   These professionals are much more likely to receive admiration from their target of affection than the artist would.
Perhaps because we live longer now a days, and there may be a greater urgency for security or perhaps it could be the American ideal where poor people are lazy people. Those with romantic ideals are usually on the opposite side of the spectrum from those with money and power.  To get rich in this world most people do quite a many not so chivalrous things.
Without power in today’s world the Chivalrous man, is given titles as “too nice”, “pushover”  “bleeding heart” In today’s society we cannot go out and put an axe through someone’s head to prove we aren’t pussies.   So women go after the rich, powerful or the assholes.  Your chivalrous men may be all around you but you wouldn’t know it because they’re too boring or don’t drive a Mercedes.
Am I being harsh?    We shall break it down then.  The basic parts of Chivalry that keep popping up are:  Courage, (so there goes all cowardly lions) Justice (must be a goody, goody) Mercy (and they speak particularly about mercy with ones words and attitudes, so there goes the assholes, point nice guys) Generosity (not just in money, but in time and wisdom as well) Faith (integrity, trustworthy, and gasp! keeps all promises) Nobility (I’ve seen it meaning owning land, or being true to ones convictions), so you could take out all the poor shmucks out of the equation if you chose) Hope (positive, cheerful, inspiring, there go your artists)
I dunno, sure seems like a lot to expect…..oh wait there’s another, gallantry toward women.  yeah, right.    Again, I stick to my first response, today’s women like assholes.
Now we need a case study, and here where it gets personal.  We are going to look at the Priza, I am not afraid.   I like to think of myself as one of the more Chivalrous people I know, I think those who know me would agree.  Unfortunately, Chivalrous in this world is easily a synonym for stupidity.  For it will get you very little, except for some piece of mind.

So, is it Sir Perpetual Bachelor?
Courage:  hmmm, well I’m always willing to pay the checks my mouth writes, and it writes a lot so I believe my gonads are bigger than most.
Mercy: I live my life biting my tongue, but once in a while I let the acid spit.  I’m going to give my saintly patients a break here and give it to me.
Generosity:  I do charity events, put stray animals to sleep, have taken the time to talk to several disturbed people, and gone on a limb or two for fuck ups.  I’m a bleeding hearted jackass.  Stupid, stupid, but it gives me another pass.
Faith:  I do what I say, I say what I do.
Nobility: Oh, I am stubborn, if there is anything I do, it is stick to my convictions but I rent. I do not own much.   So it’s a matter of interpretation.
Hope:  oh, well not always cheerful or hopeful, I can be inspiring sometimes maybe, yeah I would have to be put on meds to fits this category.
Gallantry towards women:  I’m polite, respectful, I’ve done countless, sickening gestures, wrote much prose, I think I am a great example of how that will get you nowhere.  It has very little value to the modern woman.  I never heard of it helping anyone in reality.  Yeah, I pass, whoopty doo.

Well it appears I am not Knight material.  But you find me a guy who fits all those things and Ill show you a priest addicted to volume.   So if Chivalry isn’t dead, the appreciation for such is.  Honestly, how many people you know do always do the right thing.  How many of them always stand up for what’s right.  How many of them will go out of their way to do the right thing, and how many of those remaining would you fuck.   Hmmm, interesting.   It takes a virtuous woman to handle a Chivalrous man, most of you ladies should do those of us who try to be Chivalrous, and stick to your asshole.   I wish I could put a happier twist on the topic but when it comes down to it, Chivalry Is Dead. It’s often not appreciated in society, even less so in the hearts of women.  Peers see it as a personal calling out, or challenge to see someone who puts the effort to behave knightly.  Women, instead of seeing the great strength it takes to do so, see only weakness.
It breaks my heart, I fear it shall tremble for a fortnight, to have to tell you, the grand ideals of the Knight, are long forgotten.