The Middle Ages was an era of many different classes. There were the peasants, merchants, knights, nuns, and more. Peasants and knights worked to aid their leaders, merchants made a profit off homemade merchandise to achieve a level of higher class, and nuns served their God through a devoted life. So what did each of these classes think? If one was of a lower or middle class, he would think differently than someone of a higher class because that is the life that he is used to living. Each class had their own opinion; however, they were not entitled to express their opinion to society, for they could be severely punished by aristocracy.
Peasants and merchants of the Middle Ages were grouped into the same class, the working class, during the Middle Ages. Although the two were grouped together as “working,” there was a slight chance that merchants could outlive the working lifestyle if they made a big profit. Different types of merchants included butchers, bakers, dyers, shoemakers, masons, tanners, and many others. “Merchant guilds were formed because merchants found that they could get more quality work accomplished when they collaborated” (Guilds). Each different type of merchant had its own guild. The merchants cared for each other; “when a guildsman dies, all those who are of the guild and are in the city shall attend the service of the dead, and the guildsmen shall bear the body and bring it to the place of burial” (Medieval Sourcebook). Merchants thought and knew that they had to work to make a living and possibly find a way to become of a higher class. On another note, there were only three types of peasants that served on a manor: Slaves, serfs, and freeman. Slaves were bought and sold, serfs could not ever leave the manor in which they worked, and freeman owned little pieces of land and could move wherever they desired. Contrary to popular belief that slave owners did not respect their peasants, “A peasant could not refuse to work, and the lord could not evict him, so they respected each other’s rights” (Roles and Rights of A Peasant). Once when two slaves fell in love, they escaped together. Their owner, Rauching, found them in the Church, brought them back, ordered for a tree to be cut down, and a hole to be dug. “Then placing the girl in as if she were dead, he ordered the slave to be thrown on top of her. And when the cover had been placed upon the trunk he filled the grave and buried them both alive” (Medieval Sourcebook). Wiser slaves would know not to even think about escaping from their leaders, because it will result in harsh consequences.
Knights were men that protected and enforced laws of nobility; their lives were full of love and compassion. After a man became a knight, he favored his lord. Knights followed the order of their lords with pride; they made sure the entireties of the serf’s taxes were paid, that the estate was running smoothly, and fought off any trespassers. Knights protected their lord’s castle against attack, and they loved doing it. Knights were gentlemen, for they practiced chivalry, which means that they were honorable, loving, and loyal to everyone. “What with his wisdom and hid chivalry, he gained the realm of femininity that was of old time known as Scythia. There he wedded he the queen, Hippolyta” (Chaucer). Often times, a lord would grant his daughter permission to wed the knight that protected his castle. When the couple would bear children, the boys of the family would practice to be a knight, just like his father. When a boy was 7 years old, he was sent off to live with another lord, often a friend of his father. The boy would serve as a page to the lord, learn “good manners, reading, writing, numbers, singing, dancing, strumming the lute, reverence for God, how to use a sword, and how to ride a horse” (Knighthood). At age 13, the boy would begin training to be a knight and become a squire. During this time, the boy practiced with his sword, learning the necessities of knighthood. By age 18-21, the young man was ready to become a knight; a ceremony was held for the new knight to induct him. If you were a boy whose father was a knight in the Middle Ages, you had no choice in what you wanted to be; it was your father’s job; therefore, you did it as well.
The clergy was a very important part of the Middle Ages; it included: Priests, monks, nuns, friars, etc. Nuns were like monks, but they were women. Nuns devoted their lives to become closer to God and the Church. Nuns resided in places made especially for nuns called nunneries, where they prayed, worked God’s mission, and taught God’s will. Nuns never married, for their whole life was devoted to God. They wore simple clothing called habits, and they even ate simple food. Nuns spent most of their time praying, working, or attending one of the seven Church services during one day. Most nuns chose their lifestyle; however, when some of them were young, their parents forced them into the convent. Nuns love to live their lives in the footsteps of God. “She never ceased, as written do I find, to pray to God, and love Him, and to dread, beseeching Him to keep her maidenhead” (Chaucer). Nuns live their lives full of content and happiness. They chose to serve God, and they love doing it.
These four different classes of people, peasants, merchants, knights, and nuns, each have a different outlook on their occupations. They all think different things; peasants know that they will never be free, merchants hope for the best fortune, knights have a positive, healthy outlook on life, and nuns love God. Each class had their own opinion; however, they were not entitled to express their opinion to society, for they could be severely punished by aristocracy.
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"Chivalry." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry>.
"File:A Merchant Making up the Account.jpg." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_merchant_making_up_the_account.jpg>.
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"Roles and Rights of A Peasant." Web. 29 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/middleages/prole.html>.
