3-4+Thomas+S.

__A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver__ wiki posts Wiki post #1 3/23/12 Eleanor and Louis were betrothed considerably late for their time period. Most children of royal families were betrothed early so that the families could consolidate their power. Families that were powerful married their children into other powerful families so that both families could maintain their status and influence. Eleanor had not been betrothed to anyone because her father thought that he would never die. This shows the reader that her father was too full of himself and his own importance. He believed that he was so powerful that he felt that he was more powerful than death. He felt immortal and wasn't concerned about having his daughter married. This is expressed when the book states that the duke was far richer than Louis the Fat. On the other hand, Louis wasn’t betrothed at a young age because he was a second child, to Louis the Fat, and his older brother had just died. Because he was a second child, he was only a student to a man called Abbot Sugar, and was not expected to take up the crown of France. Immediately before the Duke of Aquitaine, Eleanor's father, died, he sent messengers to Louis the Fat and offered to have Louis betrothed to Eleanor. Of course, Louis the Fat accepted. These are the reasons why Louis and Eleanor were betrothed at such a late age.

To what extent can one person's decisions and/or actions change his/her life and the lives of others? The answer is: a tremendous amount. Eleanor of Aquitaine, from the book, __A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver__, influences Louis in multiple ways. Louis loved Eleanor deeply, and wanted to impress her, so he does whatever she wants him to. She manipulates his love, and makes her carry out her wishes. Because of her manipulation, Louis does many things later in his life that he likely would not have done, had he not been influenced by Eleanor. Because of her influence, Louis becomes destructive and violent and burns down towns and has a whole nation of conquered men’s hands cut off! He also rejects the Church’s bishops and appoints his own. Because of all this, Louis is banned from the church by a means called excommunication. Louis was very upset by his excommunication, however, Eleanor considered this only a minor inconvenience. “Eleanor, too, seemed to regard excommunication as an inconvenience”(E.L. Konisburg 35). Eleanor of Aquitaine is a very influential person and her choices change not only Louis’s life, but also the lives of many others.



Wiki Post # 2 Scarlet and Miniver

Wiki Post # 2 Scarlet and Miniver

Divine Justice is the idea that a sinister person will receive punishment from God, either now, or in the afterlife. In many ways, Divine Justice is similar to karma. Abbot Bernard thinks Geoffrey died because of Divine Justice. Abbot Bernard believes this because Geoffrey refused to return King Louis’s steward, who had been captured in an earlier conflict. Geoffrey argues that the steward is a prisoner of war, but Abbot Bernard counters that it is a sin to keep him. Even after all this, Geoffrey still refuses to give back the King's steward. Abbot Bernard clearly states,"It is a sin to keep your king's steward in chains" (E.L. Konigsburg 81). Eventually, to try to get his son the kiss of peace, he releases the steward from captivity. Unfortunately, Geoffrey dies shortly thereafter. Abbot Bernard is convinced that Geoffrey died because of Divine Justice but Geoffrey’s wife thinks otherwise. Why, she concludes, would God kill Geoffrey if he had just given back the steward? Divine Justice connects to the E.Q. because a person who believes in Divine Justice might hesitate to commit a crime. This might save a life or save family memorabilia. These are some of the positive influences of the concept of Divine Justice. In contrast, a criminal who doesn't believe in Divine Justice might not hesitate. He/she would likely continue with their crime and leave someone to themselves. This shows how Divine Justice may positively or negatively influence a life.

Eleanor and Matilda are against Thomas Becket becoming the archbishop of Canterbury. They believe that if Thomas Becket becomes the archbishop, he will choose God over Henry and cease to serve as Henry's chancellor anymore. They are also fearful of Thomas's possible power. They are concerned that if he is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury, he may become power-thirsty and seek to take the throne from Henry. Eleanor queries, "Can you imagine Becket not wanting to set his fancy bottom on such a fancy seat?" (E.L. Konigsburg 113). She believes that Thomas Becket would eventually want to take over the throne. In contrast, Henry believes that it is a good choice to put Thomas Becket in power as archbishop of Canterbury. He tells the two women that all people are treated equally under his law except for those of the Church. The church members get to be tried under Church law. Henry wants to have an inside friend in the Church, so that he can influence the Church laws and decisions. Although both Henry and Eleanor have opposing opinions, they are both for selfish reasons. The outcome of Thomas's assignment to archbishop could be positive or negative. Thomas might leave Henry and get closer to God, or he might help Henry with his plot to try to control the church's laws and decisions. This shows how Henry's life may be affected by his unreasonable decisions.



**Wiki Post # 3** **Thomas Smith 4/2/12**

Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry have very different teaching methods. Because of their different methods, Richard develops into a strong leader, while Young Henry is unable to lead effectively. Eleanor allows her pupil to learn from his mistakes and experiences. She gives him the responsibility of ruling over the Aquitaine. This gives Richard a great deal of confidence. Because of his confidence, Richard becomes a powerful king, and the people of the Aquitaine admire him, thinking that a new William the Conquerer, their hero has taken over their land. While Eleanor is content to let Richard lead the Aquitaine and crush rebellion, King Henry is reluctant to let go of his power. King Henry teaches by showing Young Henry how to rule. The king doesn't give Young Henry any important jobs or tasks. Young Henry is unhappy with his position because, even with all his titles, King Henry assigns him with jobs of an errand boy. One day, Young Henry complains, "Bright plumage, but it is purely ornamental. When will you let us fly?" (Konigsburg 145). Because of the king's teaching methods, Henry develops into a weak leader with no real power. As one can see, the methods of Eleanor and King Henry have produced very different rulers from two brothers.

The Art of Courtly Love has affected mankind greatly even in today's world. Men have so much more respect for women than they did in medieval times, such as when Eleanor of Aquitaine lived. Women of the Medieval Era were treated as property titles. They were married off to Princes to keep power in a ruling family. They had no rights and did not usually represent themselves in ruling. Eleanor and Marie's invention of the Art of Courtly Love changed this and affected how men treat women all over the world today. Women today can get jobs, vote, and hold political offices. The Art of Courtly Love was where many of these rights started by changing the idea that women were property and making them someone who was respected and honored. The arts are displayed most prominently while eating with a lady. Some rules that apply to this are: seating the lady before you seat yourself, serving the lady's food, and having polite table manners. To make the Art of Courtly Love, Eleanor had to get Marie to help her make these laws. She wanted her court to be like Constantinople but more vigorous. She needed help to do that. So she sent for Marie, her very first child." (Konigsburg 133). Elea nor had her first daughter Marie help her design the Courts of Love. She needed her because she couldn't complete a project that big all by herself. The ideas of Eleanor and Marie have influenced almost every aspect of modern culture and most people don't even realize it, by ultimately making a woman equal to a man.