Chivalry

Lucy Scott primarily associates the relationships between men and women as that of protector and protectee. This is worded in terms of chivalry, but whether true chivalry is occurring depends on one’s definition of the word as well as the characters in question. The primary relationship through which chivalry is demonstrated is between Naomi and Knox. Knox is rude and insulting to Naomi throughout the first half of the novel. Still, he insists on protecting her, and both of the characters seem to consider the acts chivalrous .What seems to be missing in these acts of chivalry, however, is consent and respect. If one thinks of chivalry as being an act of protecting the weaker and as putting another’s needs ahead of one’s own, then Knox’s actions do not appear to be all that chivalrous. Often Naomi does not want his protection...