Gentleman
The term refers to a gentleman because of his birth, his character or otherwise in any way socially prominent man - the German most likely to translate as a man of honor. The term was coined in England and has always been considered a specific statement of the British national character.
Etymology
The term is a contraction of the words gentle ( = " amiable, kind " ) and you ( = " man " ) together. Gentle in turn goes back to the Old French gentil ( = "well- born " ) and ultimately the Latin gentilis ( = " the same family, race, or nation belonging "). Etymological affinities exist in so far also the English term Gentry, who describes in a broader sense the nobility. Parallel terms are in French ( gentilhomme ), Spanish ( gentilhombre ) and Italian ( gentiluomo ).
Definitions
The concept of the gentleman is relatively vague and shapeless: a binding characterization is hardly possible. Were mentioned among others as necessary, and sometimes sufficient conditions:
Belonging to the nobility
In older times was considered a relevant criterion for the membership of the person concerned to the nobility. John Selden in Titles of Honour is about 1614, the terms " gentleman " and " Nobilis " right now. Daniel Defoe, in his Compleat English Gentleman in 1729, when a gentleman it must in any case be an " offspring of a well-known and time-honored family." After William Harrison that gentleman to be called, are generally seen as elegant because of their blood or their origin, (...).
Partial was also represented at the gentlemen if it were a separate class that have emerged later than in the 15th century between the actual nobility and the common people. A landowner register of 1431 performs about besides knights, esquires, yeomen and husbandmen (ie householders ) on the class of gentlemen.
Great importance was also the extent of the privilege to lead a coat of arms. Sometimes this was even considered as the sole or conclusive feature. Revealing in this respect appears a scene from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew ( Act II, 1):
Translation of Schlegel / Tieck:
Education
After the Elizabethan nobleman Richard Mulcaster view draws a gentleman that he " read, write, draw, sing, could speak foreign languages , was a scholar and also in theology and jurisprudence knew about it ." His contemporary, Kempf called an "education in grammar, logic and mathematics ." After William Harrison you have in Shakespeare's time, among other things those men considered Gentlemen, " that studies the rights, stayed at the university and have really studied books, science and art."
It is this criterion was in fact often not shared by the actual trendsetting and influential circles of England. Learning, language skills, legal research were considered as " a gentleman not worthy " and were at best considered as employment for posthumous noble sons, who were not entitled to the paternal heritage and therefore had to otherwise find their way in the world. A similar view is also found in the American writer Lewis Mumford, who by a gentleman indeed " humanistic education " requires, but in-depth detailed knowledge considered to be more harmful; the ideal gentleman was more of a generalist, who knows something of everything, but nothing too much.
It has sometimes been less parked on the extent and nature of knowledge, but rather to the place of its acquisition: As a gentleman should simply apply, who had been brought up, etc. on the famous public schools of Eton, Rugby, Winchester.
Character
Often called as an essential characteristic of a gentleman a certain, certain ethical and moral standards sufficient behavior:
Chaucer writes about in Meliboeus (about 1386 ), that no one should be called a " gentil man" of it, do not use due diligence and care to defend his good name. In The Wife of Bath 's Tale, however, he is on virtue ( " vertuous " ), seclusion ( " prive " ) and from the desire to do good. John Rastel puts 1525 in a dialog a farmer who believes in his mouth, a gentleman draw " humility, patience, charity, generosity, chastity, honesty and chastity " from - why he himself was the true gentleman, and not his civil higher interlocutor. Even after Steele ( Tatler, 1714), the appeal in no way depends on the gentleman of the life circumstances of the person concerned from, but rather by the behavior that he showed in the face of them. Similarly, Defoe also, the extent relativized the member for whom he aristocratic blood moderate principle again expressed. William Harrison also mentions as criteria in addition to the above Education, that those persons dignity and attitude of a gentleman showed.
In this context, the anecdote from the days of King James II was mentioned, according to which the monarch is said to have, at the request of a lady to make her son a " gentleman ," replied he could at most be able to him as "the Nobleman " to make. The creation of a gentleman, however, was reserved for the Almighty.
According to Lewis Mumford draws a Gentleman " Embodied masculinity " from, " an example of perfect conduct, decided in all actions, stoically in suffering, self-controlled, considerate, physically at the level and with a humanistic education." From Cardinal Newman has defined a gentleman is a man who " inflicts pain to anyone, ( ... ), and making a fuss of the favors that he proves to others." Henry James sees those as a gentleman on the " Also in insignificant moments of good acting ." Even in the movie Blast from the Past gentleman the gentleman is characterized as a man "who always tried to give the people around you the ultimate in benevolence. "
Employment
The main attention was paid also the question of how the person earns his livelihood. The strictest opinion demands that a gentleman should be able to deny this entirely without its own work - which the circle narrowed mainly to noble landowners.
The more moderate view does it suffice to say that the person does not perform physical work ( such as Harrison and Mulcaster ). In any case, this interpretation allows for the inclusion of the professions such as doctors, lawyers or theologians - leading to an overlap with the above Criterion of "education" leads. At issue, however, was often, whether members of the merchant's article ( " tradesmen " ) should be included. While the merchants generally still great appreciation has been met with in the 15th century and dedicated himself Royals in trade and moneylending, got this profession at the latest with the throne of the Stuarts in 1603 into disrepute because pure acquisitiveness was increasingly not seen as a gentleman worthy.
Harrison also classifies certain activities in the field of politics and the military as a " gentlemanly " one, such as community service military service in the corporate office or the advice of government agencies in times of peace. Even after Robert Graves make a commission, a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge, as well as a spiritual benefice of the Church of England its owner automatically gentlemen.
Clothing
" A true gentleman is one who leaves nothing to chance. It is not enough that you dress perfectly and that everything is immaculately maintained. The whole appearance must be perfect. [ ... ] Are the nails well manicured? Sits the hat at right angles? Is the umbrella so tightly curled, as it should be? All these questions have to face a gentleman, as soon as he's finished with the breakfast. "
This quote brings a now widespread belief expressed that to recognize a gentleman above all by its appearance as a well-groomed appearance in the style of classic menswear.
Art of Living
A totally different contemporary approach can be found in the book " The Gentleman. Plea for a way of life " of the journalist Martin Scherer. The thesis of his book is: " Behind the gentleman hides - spoken or unspoken - a certain way of life, in which, proud loneliness and social culture condense in a special way reflection and experience. "
Scherer performs this form of art of living in seven chapters with the titles courtesy of understatement, balance, composure, irony and charm. He defined the gentleman about his character in the style of a modern theory of virtue.
Development history of the term
"The concept of the gentleman has played in the philosophy of always had a special role because it, as it belongs to the Greek idea of the ideal man, because the virtue of contemplation has a confirmation found by the theology and the academic life was knighted by the ideal of disinterested truth. The gentleman must be drawn as a member of a society of equals, living on slave labor, or at least of the work of people whose subordinate position is beyond question. "
Again and again, modifications or neoplasms of the concept were created " Gentleman" in order to involve circuits can that do not meet the requirements of the gentleman - term according to the relevant standards of the speaker. As a new gentlemen were happy about earning and successful merchants, referred to as gentlemen by nature nationals simpler objects, which are characterized by special advantages of character. The extensively appointed especially in times of war in the officer rank men who lacked the birth - and educational requirements for the gentleman status, was called sometimes temporary gentlemen.
From about the 19th century was a general decline of the term recorded. At best, he still is a name for one - especially to women - particularly friendly or polite Mr dar. He is frequently but simply used as a synonym for " man ", as expressed for example in the salutation "Dear ladies and gentlemen ." Significantly appears so far the British label toilet doors with the word Gents or the use of the word in combinations such as Gentlemen's Club, which often enough is a euphemism for brothels, love hotels or similar. In its original meaning, of course it lives on in compositions such as gentlemen's agreement or gentlemanly.