Evolution of the Werewolf: Lay of the Werewolf

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In “The Lay of the Werewolf,” by Marie de France, the main character Bisclavaret is betrayed by his wife. Bisclavaret had a secret that he never told anyone before, including his wife. He would go away for three days every week and would never say where he was going. This upset his wife; assuming the worse that Bisclavaret was cheating on her. She cried in his arms begging him to stop leaving her and her mourning convinced Bisclavaret to share his secret with her. The secret he spoke was that he had to leave for those three days because he turned into a werewolf. He left all civilization so while he was in the werewolf stage he would not hurt anyone. He also told her about the secret hallow stone near the chapel where he would leave his clothes. If his clothes were not there when his three days were over he would be unable to return back to his human form. After he revealed his secret he kissed her goodbye, hoping to see her after the three days. What Bisclavaret did not know was that his wife was cheating on him with a noble knight. Once Bisclavaret left; his wife told her new lover Bisclavaret’s secret and he stole the clothes from the stone; trapping Bisclavaret in his werewolf form. Bisclavaret mourned over the events that had happened, but soon was blessed with living with the king and serving as his protector. He served his king better than any other knight. He sought his revenge on his wife and her new lover when they arrived at the castle to visit the king. Bisclavaret attacked his wife, ripping off her nose, and her new husband. One of the wise counselors approached the king explaining why Bisclavaret would do these things to the King’s guests. The wife admitted to everything and they were banished from the land of Britt...

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...a is immediately shown. Bisclavaret told the closest person in his life his secret and she betrayed him. Another life message in this story is that the normal people in life may not be the best. This is because Bisclavaret is far from a normal person or animal, however, he is the best friend and protector the king could ask for. He is better than any knight or normal animal on the Earth. The last message that was portrayed in the story is that cheaters never win. The wife literally cheated on her husband and her new knight husband was the cause of her cheating. They were punished by being banished from their homeland and living with only each other. The story has many different messages within Stypczynski’s system and in life. Bisclavaret touches many different aspects of life and allows everyone to connect or relate to messages and events that happened to him.

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