Valentine's Day, traditionally linked with love and romance, has roots that trace back to the Middle Ages. Originally a feast day honoring a Christian martyr from the 3rd century, it was poet Geoffrey Chaucer who redefined its significance. In his work "The Parliament of Fowls," written in 1382, Chaucer connected Valentine's Day with courtship by depicting birds gathering on February 14 to choose their mates. Professor Rosemary O’Neill of the Department of Gender & Sexuality Studies explains that Chaucer humorously critiques rational approaches to courtship in this poem.
Professor O'Neill discusses how medieval notions of romantic love still influence modern perceptions. She states, "Fundamentally, our notions of love are medieval." The concept of courtly love, which emerged during this period, was initially extramarital due to arranged marriages among aristocrats. This idea is encapsulated in Andreas Capellanus's rule: “Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.”
In her classes, O'Neill engages students with these historical concepts through exercises like the "Kenyon Rules of Love," where they explore themes such as secrecy and the physical effects of love described by Capellanus. Students find resonance in ideas that suggest love is ennobling or tied to character.
O'Neill notes that contemporary students often highlight expanded gender possibilities and queer love as differences from medieval conceptions. They also study early valentines like those found in the Paston letters from 15th-century England, which reveal affectionate exchanges similar to today's traditions.
Medieval literature also depicts ways love can go awry. Works like "The Canterbury Tales" explore themes of unhappy marriages and problematic relationships, including issues like rape.
For students today, studying these texts broadens their understanding of human experiences across time. As O'Neill remarks, it offers insights into both similarities and profound differences between past and present conceptions of love.
