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Chivalry and the Code of a Knight is a romantic idea. Imagine the iron clad knight, riding a horse seeking to defend the honor of his maiden.

“Hark I say rude knight I am passing sore for you have dishonored my lady. Make ready with steel else I will deliver a blow upon thy helm to brow and brain”

Totally cool in movies and books, and yes I would dig riding around delivering blows to foul knights with swords.  If only I were born 1200 years ago. What about chivalry today? Do girls even recognize or appreciate honor, gallantry, bravery and loyalty? I wonder how many ladies seek those traits on their date profiles.  I know how many ladies want a guy with a job, a mortgage, a car, money, and teeth. It seems like chivalry has been abandoned by as many woman as men. That being said when I take a lady out I hold the door, pay for the dinner, offer to drive, and walk on the side of traffic. I don’t know if my date cares but I’m still going to act like ‘the man’ and do these things.  For me the way I treat a date is a masculine thing, I would feel totally inappropriate letting a lady pay for my meal. 

Perhaps the mystery of dwindling chivalry lies in the fact that a lot of guys are doing more girly things. For example I have guy friends who go to salons, exfoliate, do their nails, wax their chests, and get laser hair removal down there.  Maybe they want to feel special and taken out to dinner too? I don’t know.  And don’t get me wrong, I’m not hating I’m just pointing this phenomenon out.  Anyhow, I’m one of the guys who holds doors for ladies, kids, old folks, and even guys.  And almost everyone says thank you.  Except sometimes the ladies don’t, sometimes ladies don’t look up from texting. So I wonder, do women really want a man who is polite and well mannered?  Or do they like the flashy salon manicure man who shows off really well. The fact of the matter is, I would love a dating field where my word was my honor and where I could take a ladies word as her honor, but it seems like many people are looking out for number one.  Everyone’s struggling for the upper hand.  In Code of the Knight he would die before breaking his word. How romantic is that?

“I say my lady fair, you be thy only damsel, by muscle, bone and the heart in my chest I swear to thee”

Chivalry’s not dead it’s just not appreciated by the majority. Perhaps only the romantic and nostalgic of heart can really appreciate the concept of chivalry. I’m not suggesting anybody go dying for honor, but good manners and respect goes a long way in my opinion. Despite it being unappreciated I’m going to keep  my word and be well-mannered. It might get me stuck with an expensive restaurant tab but I don’t care. Cheers to all!

- A gentleman

To see a woman’s take on chivalry click here