Castles are often depicted, in pictures and stories, as having a fair maiden charming knights from on top of the walls--or needing rescuing from a tall tower. They are depicted as places of endless romance, chivalry, and epic battles. Sure, the realities are not nearly as exciting or fun, but let's forget those things for now. In popular culture, castles represent a time of heroes, knights, fair maidens, honor, challenge, triumph and villains.
I've grown up around actual castles, and have walked through them, so I love them almost as much as I do mountains. They are towering structures, imposing in their strength, and marvelous in their engineering. Actually, it's pretty incredible that many are still standing, considering they were built hundreds of years ago. I would love to vacation in one, to experience how the walls absorb history and the atmosphere you can only experience in person. There's inherent greatness in castles to match their huge walls.
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| Marienburg Castle, Germany |
Why does our culture romanticize the times of castles so much? Well, because it was long ago, these structures are imposing, knights are interesting, and things seem simple compared with today. But, I think it's mostly because we yearn for times of honor, truthfulness, dignity, and solace. So, we project these ideas onto a time long ago and not well understood. Then, we fill the concept with stories and imagery reinforcing those ideas. It becomes a safe retreat from reality, a little paradise of its own, and a wellspring of romance.
- M
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