Lanval Sparknotes

Marie de France wrote the poem “Lanval” during the 13th Century. During this time of her writings, Marie de France was in competition with the males of her era. The male authors were writing lais that dealt with high level of romantic tension and she focused more on the eternal struggle of the promises and expectations within a romantic relationship. Most of Marie's contemporaries who wrote on the subject of love were focused more on the tension between balancing love and chivalric pursuits. Marie rather focuses on the personal desires of her characters, especially those of her female characters. "Her lais often depict intensely intimate love relationships set against a backdrop of a threatening society in which unfulfilling marriages, the

arbitrary dictates of court life, and oppressive social practices hold sway." The poem Lanval is particularly unique because the unknown woman is seen as the heroine as she saves Lanval at the end of the story which was very unusual for the given time period. The poem Lanval had five characters Lanval, The Queen, Unnamed Lady, King Arthur and Gawain.
In King Arthur's court, everyone was given gifts except Lanval, whom people envied for "his valor, his generosity, his beauty, his prowess." He had run out of money, and decides to go into the wilderness and think on his situation. While there, two women come and take him to their lady who is in love with him. They become lovers and she blesses him that "the more richly he spends, the more gold and silver he will have," that she will come when he wants her, but commands him not to tell anyone else of her. Lanval goes home and gives gifts, and they continue to meet. After a while he is invited to join the knights by Gawain, wherein Queen Guinevere notices him. She offers herself to him, but when he refuses her she calls him a homosexual. He retaliates that he loves someone much more beautiful than her with handmaidens who are also more beautiful than the queen, breaking his oath. The queen then complains to Arthur that Lanval asked to be her lover and when she refused him he said he loved someone more beautiful, and Arthur puts Lanval on trial. It is decided that if his lady comes then they will know that Lanval would not have made advances on the queen. Lanval has been calling to her, to no avail. The day of the trial arrives and first her maidens come, then her. By her beauty and request, Lanval is freed and hops up behind her on her horse to go to Avalon.
One reading of the text introduces the theme that such a devoted love as Lanval's can't exist within the society of the day. This is first symbolized when Lanval abandons his horse to go into the woods to see the lady. This represents his willingness to leave behind the world he knows and the world which makes him an outcast. As he forsakes the world he knows he is well rewarded by the unnamed lady who only asks that he keep their love a secret. His "love" becomes that more impassioned and he is willing to drift away from the world he knows. This is seen when Gawain invites him to spend time with him and the other knights -- however it is not long before Lanval drifts off to be by himself."Marie wishes us to realize, however, the tragedy that such an intensely personal love will always be at odds with the world, so dedicated to society of others. Consider how no other characters ever act or are seen alone in the poem. The only other valiant character, Gawain, is nevertheless always described as being part of a company, even when they are nameless, as though to suggest he cannot act without his buddies. Arthur cannot decide Lanval's fate without calling together his men, who then request that they contact more men to facilitate the process."
Another reading can be seen from a sexual standpoint. Marie De France’s story begins with a young knight of the Arthurian court named Lanval. Lanval is a "king’s son" who feels he has great potential because of lineage. He is a knight possessed of great qualities including both beauty and valor, and as a result is envied by many other knights who would not have grieved had he suffered misfortune. Arthur never grants him anything, despite his loyal service, and neither do the other knights make any effort to help him. As he was born far away and has long since spent his inheritance, Lanval lives a sad, lonely life. In search of fulfillment and help from his “sorrows,” Lanval saddles a horse and rides off into the forest in search of enlightenment as to the meaning of his life. Marie De France understands of Lanval’s, and most adolescents’, psychology is impressive. She continues to follow this psychology and Lanval’s transition from boy to man throughout her lais, but does it in a more symbolic and cryptic form. Lanval enters the forest in search of something. The forest is a common representation of the unknown or discovery that we later see in early American literature, and that still exists today (Peterson). Once Lanval enters the forest, it is clear the forest truly represents discovery. As he enters the forest he finds a nameless woman who "grants him her love and her body", facilitating his transition from boyhood to manhood. However, this relationship that Lanval has with the unknown woman is more like that of masturbation. It is a way of self-gratification and done in secret. Though this relationship he feels more like a man but is unable to tell other the source of his confidence. This transition comes strictly from finding his sexuality, which will later be threatened by the very court that caused him his previous turmoil.
By realizing the whole purpose of Lanval’s journey to the woods, and his new found sexuality we also understand the purpose of the unnamed woman.

Her whole existence is based upon Lanval and awaking his sex drive. This gives great insight into how many women felt throughout this time period, but also how they were viewed: as necessary objects for the future generation. By the end of the poem Lanval’s ultimate lover still has no name. Nevertheless, she shows Lanval mercy by saving him from a terrible fate, despite his having broken his only promise to her. Many people view "Lanval" as being a rather revolutionary story for its time in regard to feminism because of the unnamed woman’s heroic ending. She saves Lanval instead of the traditional knight who saves the damsel in distress. Though this is one possible solution, it is also important to remember that this woman is no more than a nameless beauty with no personality. Her only role within the story is to gratify Lanval, but she also has the power to withhold that gratification. This is what is most different and makes steps to changing the game of romance so to say. Now women have a voice, though not much of one. They might not be able to simply refuse a man, but they are now able to set conditions through which men can obtain their gratification. Here Marie has set women on a pedestal causing them to appear more desirable while also setting parameters in order to achieve that beauty. Another point of interest is when she comes to rescue Lanval and comes riding upon a palfrey and putting Lanval behind her. The story ends with "No one ever hears another word of

him."
Lanval has a fairy-tale like simplicity, and leaves the realm of reality for a “happily ever after.” Avalon remains the utopic place accessed only through rejection of and by the real world. As a reader of Lanval in the twenty-first century, we only have one reaction: Happiness and maybe relief at the justice the story offers Lanval.
In Lanval there is a parallel between Lanval's relationship with Arthur, and with the lady. Lanval was a foreigner, and Arthur would not give him gifts despite Lanval being his vassal. This was a break of the traditional lord and vassal relationship, and Arthur possibly did it to ensure that Lanval would not leave once he had enough money. However, Lanval swears undying love to his lady, breaks his promise to her in order to prove his love for her. This is a break from courtly love, in that Lanval's love is not adulterous. His love forgives him, and even takes him to Avalon in contrast to Arthur's unwillingness to fulfill a lord's obligations.