There are few phrases that capture the imagination more in Dragonheart, and few that Bowen struggles more with. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to defend the Weak, to the contrary he tries but where he struggles is in the actual execution of it. Having loved Einon as though he were his own son, he cannot bring himself to undo his wickedness and thus fails to uphold the weak.
The nature of the phrase is one that at first glance is easy to figure out, but what does it mean to be weak? In Medieval times it meant serfs, women and children, but in more modern times things get complicated as government oppresses all pretty evenly, if in different, sinister ways.
But the philosophy of protecting the weak is no less important, as we need our protectors, as this was the purpose of the Greek Hoplites in the wars with Persia, or the Roman Legions for the whole of the Roman Empire. The strong had to uphold the weak, had to act as a buckler against the rampaging hordes less they get in and ransack the place…. as they did in the 4th & 5th Centuries.
The strong who uphold the weak also have to be careful less they become corrupted and begin to destroy the weak. This can be seen as happening in the Justinian Wars in Italy, the funny thing is that the Italians were getting on just fine for the most part. They had begun to civilise the Goths, begun to coax them into leaving them alone, and in comes the Greek Legions to burn, grab and reclaim.
Constantinople waged a devastating war that left Italy a wreckage for centuries, this was likely done in the eyes of the Greeks to uphold the weak, to restore the Empire.
As all can see if you let someone else decide who is weak, or what it means to uphold the weak, you inevitably will uphold those who tell you what to think, what to do and why to do it. It is why men must think for themselves, must decide for themselves and discern the situation for what it is, doing so thanks to critical thinking skills.
The Greek Legions who defended Constantinople in later centuries, were to behave rather like those of the Romans for the Roman Empire.
To uphold the weak though is important, as we men must protect our own, our children and those in need of aid. Because all men need a helping hand, it is why men must learn to uphold the weak, the defenceless and men must learn to do this.
Because if men do not learn to uphold the weak, to lift them up and to aid them then who will? It is coded into our DNA, and it is part of our nature and it is why men have such passionate natures, because we are bred for more than sitting before a screen. Men traditionally had to go out and pursue the lady, had to fight to find their place in life and to uphold those who could not defend themselves.
The weak are those who are unable to take up arms to defend themselves, they are those who are those who are vulnerable and incapable of fending off those who might destroy them.
It is for this reason that men are needed, why men must uphold the weak, must uplift them and work to aid those around them.
In the case of weak men, they are to be uplifted, defended and supported. Inevitably, the weak men ought to be supported, aided and made strong, this can be done by means of both mentorship and also acts of kindness. There’s a reason in story-telling older brothers play such an important role, characters like Sitka are so important for Denahi and Kenai, the younger brothers in Brother Bear, or even Ben Reilly needing to come restore sanity to Peter Parker, and to save him and MJ from the Jackal and to inspire them to fight on in life. There’s also for those who like more classical examples, there is a reason that Roland a hot-head needs Olivier to inspire him, to direct him and guide him in figuring out what to do when confronted by court intrigues and what not.
There is also of course the bond between Lucius Vorenus & Titus Pullo in the Rome series, where the two support one another when the other is weak. When Lucius hits rock bottom, Pullo is always there to support him, to aid him, to shield him and to help put him back together. When Pullo is broken, Vorenus shields him, supports him and seeks to help him find his feet and his way in life.
With regards to women, it depends on the bond between them and the men who wish to uphold them is difficult to describe. If a sister or mother, one should protect, and aid them when needed, especially if anyone does them harm but that said there are many who might not accept aid. As in the case of any who are weak there is always the possibility that they do not wish for aid. Aid cannot be forced on people, so that if they truly are that reluctant towards it, it must not be forced on them. The reason for this is that people who do not want to receive aid, are like glass and will likely cut up the hand stretched out to them.
Where a wife or partner is concerned, it is the most important duty of a spouse to shield and protect them. When they are weak, one must protect them, support and aid them, with a good example of a husband shielding his wife can be found in the old Spider-Man comics with Spider-Man and Mary-Jane, and also vice-versa with her seeking to protect him emotionally, and keep him together. Another example can be found in Conan with Zenobia, who comes to his aid when he is weak only for him to seek to rescue her.
Children go without saying, so no need to elaborate as it is the duty of all men to protect all children who are targeted by those who might do them harm. The reason this is so important, is because the number of people who tend to target children seems to have exploded in numbers so that men and women must always be on their guard and protect their kids.
That aside, now onto women who uphold the weak, this is something that is important for them also, especially where kids are concerned. It is natural for them, and it ought not to be denied that women have this drive also, with the very best of women in history having been those who upheld duty, who priortised the safety of their people and children with a very fierce maternal instinct.
A good example of a mother who fought tooth and nail for her children and for the kingdom itself can be found in Blanche de Castille, from French history. Forced to step up when her husband went and got himself killed, she stepped up and raised her son Louis, later known as St-Louis. She taught him right from wrong, and also guided and led the nation well during his minority.
What is more is that in literature we can see the likes of Princess Peach helping to defend the people of her father’s kingdom in plenty of the games. She does this out of a desire to do the right thing, and this ought to be praised. There is also Princess Leia who spent her entire life in service to others, was a fantastic mother and was the one to try to egg on the likes of Ben Kenobi, and later Han Solo to do the right thing and to uphold the weak.
One can also see it in Belle from Beauty & the Beast, where Belle seeks to uphold the castle staff and her father, with the young woman also seeking to teach Adam to uphold his duty to the weak. Caring for him, supporting him as she finds him at his weakest point and helps to build him back up, if in a slightly different manner from Pullo and Vorenus. There’s also the likes of Nala with Simba, or Asenath with Joseph in Joseph King of Dreams.
To uphold the weak is a duty, and is one that all knights should remember to always uphold and should be done with a certain level-headed wisdom and the knowledge that those in power such as Justinian best treated with caution. One must also remember that compassion, pity and confidence are necessary to keep from being weak and are necessary in the upholding of your fellow man.
Remember also that just because a man or woman are weak to-day, does not mean they will be tomorrow, they may regain their strength, and may lend you strength in your time of need when the time comes.
The key phrase is; ‘Un pour tout et tout pour un!’ ‘One for all and all for one’.
This is the motivation most heroes have, regardless of what form they take.
Great note. We forget that we see ourselves and serve God in the weak; that act building up Christendom. The strength of it, spiritually, morally, and physically - is something that captures our imaginations to this day. Anyone that denies that simply hasn't seen enough art, architecture, or read the great epics that came from it.
And, having lacking that, the fail to realize even the humble farmer's life is an epic - to him. One which will echo and be sung in the halls of heaven for all eternity.
We get to participate in that epic and song every time we help each other.
Or become the villain as we destroy each other.
What tales will we weave?