Chivalry is dead. People’s traditions and icons evolve over time. Before it was accepted to bury alive new born girls but now you would not dream to see it. Before it was accepted to smoke a cigarette whilst reading the paper in a cafe but now you would not see it. Women were considered as lower than the man yet now we see equality observed in the developed societies.

One concept that hasn’t changed, evolved or been distorted is the mannerisms of a gentleman. As the generation of hip-hop spread faster than cancer over the pop and rock culture, the gentleman was branded as an outcast. It was no longer noticed to dress well, to groom or even offer the basic respect to the fellow man and these homophobic labels took over, causing the gentleman to retreat. Now, as society has grown intellectually, they have realised the grave mistake at allowing such a laxed culture to wade in. The need for a return of the smart, crisp gentleman was desperate.

When one imagines this gentleman, one immediately thinks of a man in a suit holding doors for women and paying the bill at the end of dinner. But this is trivial, in fact completely unrelated to what the gentleman is all about. Holding a door for a woman was seen as sexist by the feminists as they are equally strong to open their own doors but true etiquette opens the door regardless of gender. Opening the door does not give anyone the right to claim the characteristics of a gentleman but rather the code of the gentleman has to be understood.

The gentleman is not a man who stands out of the crowd, nor is he a man who is noticed. He does not wear clothes that align him to a peacock nor does he wear sequins – he knows not what sequins is. He has a beard, strong, like a bull – but intact. Control over his emotions but passionate in his beliefs.

The lack of the gentleman is noticeable. Little nobility in people today, few with honour to defend what they believe in, even if it does result in a mess. If you saw someone mistreating another person in a public place would you come to their rescue? If you saw the tumours we call yobs robbing someone on the bus, would you stand there and watch? You wouldn’t repeat their actions, so why let it happen? To me, the onlooker that does nothing is just as guilty as the criminal in any situation.

So if I have just described your personality then portray yourself as such more in day to day life. Stand up for what you think is right even if you are alone in what you think. I truly believe chivalry is not dead and true gentleman do exist and now is more a time than ever that our society need them to set examples on the code of conduct.

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