Analysis Of The Love Story Of Eliduc By Marie De France

Overall, similar to the other lais by Marie De France, Eliduc is a love story that involves a knight. Also, even more similar to the lay Laustic, Eliduc involves more of a love triangle between Eliduc himself, his wife Guildeluec, and his new lover Guilliadon. The whole story revolves around a predicament the knight finds himself in by not knowing how to keep his promises to both women. In the end, he decides that he longs more for the love of Guilliadon and has to find a way to be with her.

The story begins with Eliduc going into exile due to the fact that he was unfairly slandered and lost the influence of the King of Brittany. Although he was greatly adored by the king, this is the event that sent him into exile. Eliduc was known as one

of the best warriors in the land and was even allowed to hunt on royal grounds. It is odd that the king believed whoever was slandering Eliduc as opposed to Eliduc himself. It would make sense for the king to take Eliduc’s side taking into account everything Eliduc has done for the king. Regardless, Eliduc decides to leave Brittany and travel to another kingdom.
After going into exile, Eliduc quickly finds himself in the services of the King of Totnes. This king is just as grateful as the king of Brittany originally was to have him at his disposal. This is where Eliduc will eventually meet his new lover. After winning several battles for the King of Totnes, Eliduc catches the eye of Guilliadon, the king’s daughter. They eventually fall in love even though Eliduc has kept a promise to his wife to not leave her for another woman. It is also interesting to wonder if there was any reason Eliduc’s wife did not make the journey with him.
The latter part of the story involve Eliduc returning to Brittany at the request of the king only to return to Totnes about a week later. He and his mistress decide to return to Brittany and embark at sea. There is a storm and during the story Guilliadon finds out that Eliduc has a wife and faints. Mistaken for dead Eliduc lays Guilliadon’s body in a chapel where she is later discovered and even revived by Eliduc’s wife. Guildeluec decides that she is to become a nun and Eliduc and Guilliadon are to be married. Eventually, Eliduc and Guilliadon become strong servants of the lord and all three of them die peaceful deaths.
Overall, the plot to this story is quite odd. It would be uncommon for a wife to be okay with her husband leaving her for another woman. It seems as though she is the one that was unhappy with her marriage due to the fact that she was so quick to want to become a nun and serve the lord. While the story does end peacefully, it carries the feeling of impending doom that the wife is going to retaliate against her ex-husband and his lover. This is an interesting story mainly due to what is the uncommon plot; it is something that is not common in modern times and would probably feel uneasy in a modern story.