Prince Charming.

This age-old title has long been the epitome of the perfect man: courteous, loyal, romantic, respectful, kind. Where is he hiding? Does he still exist? Is all Prince Charming stands for, chivalry, dead?

Let’s flashback a few hundred years. According to Martin Camargo, professor of English, Classics and Medieval Studies at the University, chivalry is a code of behavior adapted by men for men during the medieval era. It was a code of conduct for knights to uphold. It included respect for women and honor for other men. Women were praised and revered.

Chivalry has played a large part in the ideals that women hold for men in daily life, as well as in literature and movies. Displays of chivalry come up again and again in literature, especially southern style, Camargo said.

Disney has personified chivalry in various Prince Charming characters as they rescue their beautiful princesses. Other movies show men that pull chairs out, open doors, offer jackets and go above and beyond for their women. Because of its prevalence in the past and in fiction, one is left to question what role chivalry plays in the world today.

Jason Zshornack, freshman in DGS, thinks that the perspective people have on chivalry is dead, not the act itself. The typical views of chivalry aren’t as widespread anymore; instead, chivalry is now referred to as respect and courtesy.

“It’s easy for me to display chivalry because I grew up in a house with seven girls. It’s a natural instinct for me now,” Zshornack explained. “I’m respectful to everyone, such as holding the door for whoever is walking behind me, but I wouldn’t treat them the same way I would treat a girl I have feelings for. If I’m in a relationship, I treat my girl like a queen.”

Based on his experiences, Zshornack has found it easy to display the qualities of a gentleman towards women. However, as the world is now a place where equality between genders has grown, not all guys think that just males should initiate chivalry.

Andrew Sy, freshman in Business, had a few distinct views on the male-female relationship.

“I think chivalry is great, but it should be unisex. Girls should also be chivalrous, and it should be a uniform politeness across all genders,” he said.

In general, Sy likes the self-satisfaction that he gets from being polite to people.

Sy’s belief in a more modern definition of chivalry shows that the concept of chivalry has changed. A couple hundred years ago, men bowing for women came as natural as breathing. But if seen today, most people would snicker at the act.

William Maximilian Thauer, sophomore in LAS, said that if he saw a guy fluffing his napkin or opening the car door, he would think the guy was trying too hard.

“You don’t really see that around so much anymore,” he said. “Personally, I always adhere to the basic forms of chivalry. When I walk past the door, I always hold it — no matter who it is. I treat everyone like people because they are.”

While Thauer views everyone as equals, the ever-present rift between men and women comes into play.

“Feminism and chivalry are on opposite sides of the spectrum,” Thauer said.

His comment was reflected by the complexity Camargo also sees in modern day chivalry.

“Chivalry can be seen as a paradox,” Camargo said.

For years, women fought for equal rights. With women and men now at par when it comes to power, chivalry has become more complicated. When a man takes care of a woman, he is seen as more powerful because he is protecting her. While women might appreciate being treated well, they also want to be seen as equal to men. These factors continue to transform the act of chivalry.

Sharon Liu, freshman in AHS, revealed the truth from a woman’s eye.

“Honestly, I think chivalry is dead. I wish it wasn’t, but it is,” Liu said. “History and what culture has become have shaped guys’ opinions and have made them think it’s okay to treat women without respect.”

She added that in this male dominant society, she thinks that men feel submissive to their girlfriends if they try to act chivalrous. Liu isn’t expecting her guy to run around the car and open the door for her, but she does want to see little acts that show he cares. These include walking on the street side of the sidewalk and lending his jacket.

“A gesture definitely counts and I appreciate the little things,” she said.

Despite a wide variety of opinions, there seems to be common ground in the argument over chivalry. Exaggerated manners aren’t necessary to be considered a gentleman. Treating others with respect and courtesy just might have you going down in history as a knight in shining armor.