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Marie De France’s story can be analyzed through many angles but the take that I had on her text Lanval is a story of love in a constructed society. She uses a theme of a greater love that isn’t accepted in the smaller view of life and more as a fantasy. At the beginning you note that Lanval is an outcast, he's loyal to his King, is generous, but as mentioned still unaccepted. Marie De France tries to emphasize his place in society by using external points. She notes him as a man from another land and emphasizes the beauty of others such as the maiden, almost comparing them to him. Throughout the excerpt she uses elements to characterize his love as existing apart from society. Lanval, not out of the ordinarily saddened with his life, goes …show more content…
off into the woods and ends up being lured to meet someone who has been searching for a man like himself. This women was the Queen of King Arthur who obtained Lanval’s utmost loyalty. This was a love Laval never believed to have been able to exist in the first place, mind you attain a mindset that such a predicament could happen to him. Lanval is granted the opportunity to change his life of overlooked roles in society but, remains loyal to his life that is apart from this “fantasy.” Lanval’s choices result in almost completely ruining this chance and being vanished but, his loyalty changed his fate to otherwise. My purpose of further analyzation of this text is to identify the significance of the elements Marie De France used to show how love and happiness between Lanval and The Queen is separated just as Lanval is from society.
One of the first aspects that shows Lanval’s dissociation with society is that when he arrives at the woods and is asked to join these two beautiful women, he leaves his horse. Lanval is King Arthur’s knight and a horse being associated with a knight, I believe that this implies Lanval’s acceptance of him being an outcast. When first reading the text as the knight leaves his horse in the meadow, you may think he is in a time of despair because of how beautiful these women are but as the text stated a page before, Lanval is sad and anxious but, in my opinion because of these emotions he has always felt, he is just remaining optimistic when he makes this …show more content…
decision. Another point that makes this “outcast love” theme significant are a few points.
Lanval is rewarded for keeping his word of hiding his love between him and the Queen. He is taken to the Because he takes her wishes to heart he becomes more passionate about solitary living. Even when he is invited by another knight, he goes off alone somewhere. When analyzing this in a sexual sense, you may even conclude that this is a scene of masturbation. At this point of the story, Lanval has not been provoked to insult the Queen, but is remaining loyal by simply thinking of her whenever he would like to be with her instead. The story continues and shows that the theme is dedicated to the society of others just like this love between Lanval and the Queen, it is at odds with the
world. “When the Queen see’s him alone, she goes right to the knight; she sat by him and spoke to him, she showed him all her feelings:” - pg 113 This specific quote stood out to me because it just reinforces the difference between Lanval and The Queen. She takes advantage to confess her true feelings for the knight in private, where no one would see Lanval’s true character, as they are already blind to. This picture is painted after the Queen is insulted by Lanval’s loyalty and I believe that she was so angry because, she never thought the knight was better than her, nor did she think someone would tell the Queen, that there is anyone who is far much better than her. As you read the quote from Lanval, you note that he did not deny the Queen because he believed in what he said out of anger but, because he would never wrong the King, for her, or her love. “”Lady” he said, “I know nothing about that line of work; but I love and am loved by, one who should be valued more highly than all the women I know. And I’ll tell you one thing, know it well an openly: any one of her servants even the poorest maid, is worth more than you, lady queen, in body, face, beauty, in manners, and goodness.”” Then, there is King Arthur who Lanval was never disloyal to the King and denied accepting the Queen and her love. During this era or any at that, it is hard to believe someone would remain loyal at what someone might consider a “small moral cost.” In reality, loyalty is not always rewarded, Marie shows the consistent odds with this and multiple elements. Another plot twist was how the Queen realizes the knight’s loyalty after the King and his knights can not decide his consequences. Lanval, loyal to the Queen keeping their secret, loyal to King Arthur unaccepting of his lovers offer, was still such an outcast of society that nothing he said was accepted or found as truth, without the defense of someone else. This supports my idea of this forbidden love, Lanval is asked to keep such a secret because such beauty, known only for two lovers, does not comply in the world at the time.
Facing felony charges of misdeed, Lanval’s entire fate lies solely in the hands of his lady. When King Arthur agrees that: “if he [Lanval] can produce proof; / if his love would come forward, / if what he said, / what upset the queen, is true, / then he will be acquitted” (451-455), Marie places incredible power in the presence of a woman. In a time when being male was the prime prerequisite for holding authority—and women were openly seen as senseless and insignificant—Lanval’s lover’s ability to determine a knight’s fate makes a mockery of the current societal
“Lanval” was written by a female poet and therefore enlists a somewhat feminist perspective on the idea of patriarchy. In this poem, a beautiful woman asks a knight to keep their love a secret: “I command and beg you, do not let any man know about this. I shall tell you why: you would lose me for good” (144-46), and “He answered that he would do exactly as she commanded” (151-52). Here, the gender roles are swapped and the female figure holds the social power to command instead of the male, clearly subverting patriarchy. In a patriarchal theme, the knight would command the woman and she would obey his command without hesitation. The same idea can be seen when the Queen asks the King to punish Lanval after she claims that he insulted her. She said she would never “get up unless the king gave her satisfaction for the offense against her” (301-10), and the king obeyed her, deciding to hold a trial. If this text were patriarchal, the King would have punished Lanval on his own terms rather than doing it for the Queen. It seems as if the Queen is being treated as an equal ruler to the King by being allowed to hold the political power in this
In the book, Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France , the author, Evelyne Lever,
The moral of Lanval could be a theme of virtues consisting of loyalty and justice, but it could also be seen as a test of Lanval's loyalty to Queen Semiramis. It is likely that Lanval would have been found innocent since the attendants who arrived before Queen Semiramis were indeed superior in beauty to Queen Guinevere. Lanval, however, would rather die than betray his beloved in this way, which might be what leads her to save him. One could say that the moral of this story is loyalty and justice will always prevail over betrayal and prejudice.
Lanval was already discouraged with the fact that no one gave him the recognition he thought he deserved for being the knight he believed to be. With Lanval allowing his horse to run away and choosing to go after women rather than his horse showed he actually gave up on his knighthood, which would soon make him seem less of a man to the queen as she was rejected by Lanval. He was meant to show the world he was this strong dedicated knight to only chase after a women no one has met to only now causes him more trouble later on within the story. Not only was he first questioned about his knighthood but now he is being questions of his masculinity. Lanval chancing after this mystery women not only allowed him to grow a bigger heart for this unknown women but also made him vulnerable to everyone else around him soon making him face trial for accusations that were truly false. Being a knight, has many traits such as loyalty and dedication, one would think him abandoning his horse, therefore knighthood, would make him lose these characteristics. However, the horse didn't know him have these characteristic, the knighthood like traits were already apart of him, and the abandonment of the horse was simply him leaving what was once his whole world to only start a whole new
The other knights “envied [Lanval’s] handsomness, [Lanval’s] courage, prowess, and largesse” (Mari 21-22). By all regards, Lanval illustrates the ideal knight as he possesses all the attributes a knight should. Mari de France even notes that Lanval “served King Arthur very well” (Mari 40). However, Lanval lacks the material wealth that his counterpart's possess, and therefore, Lanval requires the social position his counterparts possessed. Lanval possesses the necessary heritage as he was “a king’s son of great worth” (Mari 27), yet Lanval “spent all of his property” (Mari 30). Without property, Lanval regresses to a commoner despite his noble heritage. Lanval’s exclusion illustrates the nature and values of medieval society. Lanval’s systematic constraints illustrate the futility of perseverance and hard work because, despite all of his efforts, he remains in his current position. Nobility and wealth dictate social views and quality of life in general as opposed to perseverance and hard work, and wealth stems from nobility which illustrates the ultimate futility of the social hierarchy. Nobility can only be inherited, and therefore, anyone not born into wealth or nobility is doomed to mediocrity. Martin B Shichtman also refers to the political discord present within medieval Europe as it relates to Lanval. His book Culture and
Lanval, a handsome knight, falls desperately in love with a beautiful maiden, who grants the knight her love on the condition that he keep their bliss in full secrecy. Upon returning home, Lanval is confronted by Guinevere, who attempts to seduce him . After her initial advances are rejected, the Queen tries a new tactic, attacking Lanval 's masculinity: "I have been told often enough that you have no desire for women. Base coward, wicked recreant, my lord is extremely unfortunate to have suffered you near him. " By questioning Lanval 's worthiness to serve by Arthur, Guinevere is questioning Lanval 's very status as a knight, and once again we see a knightly protagonist put into a hopeless situation as many of his chivalric duties--- courteousness to the Queen, faithfulness to his King, honesty and loyalty to his lover, and defense of his own honor--- are forced into an unresolvable conflict. Lanval defends his honor and honors his King 's trust, but breaks his promise to his lover and grievously insults the Queen: "I love and am loved by a lady who should be prized above all others... you can be sure that one of her servants, even the very poorest girl, is worth more than you, my lady the Queen, in body, face and beauty, wisdom and goodness. " Lanval 's inability to simultaneously commit to all of his knightly responsibilities is comically underscored by his polite hesitation ("my lady the Queen") even
...’s Lanval and Laustic, were subservient to men in three different ways: by being considered temptresses, by needing men’s protection, and by obeying men’s orders. The lady of Laustic conforms to all these types, and the Queen in Lanval as well, with the exception that as the Queen she has some power. Lanval’s lover breaks some of these trends, but we later learn that she is a lady of Avalon, the mythical land where King Arthur is buried and whence he will come again, and therefore it is not surprising that she does not conform to the standard status of women.
There are several things I found quite interesting about the poems in Marie de France, most all of these works had a message that truly spoke out to me. In “Guigemar” I noticed the knight never truly wanted to pursue a female until he had lost her. When he loses her he realizes how truly amazing it was to have her and is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back. It’s quite amusing how this is still relative in today’s society. I feel not only as a society but as a culture we fail to realize how special someone is until we don’t have them anymore. This can be applied to many areas throughout our lives, weather that be a family member or especially in this case a partner.
knights and courtiers in his court, but he neglects to accept the fact that Lanval is even in his
In The Lais of Marie de France, the theme of love is conceivably of the utmost importance. Particularly in the story of Guigemar, the love between a knight and a queen brings them seemingly true happiness. The lovers commit to each other an endless devotion and timeless affection. They are tested by distance and are in turn utterly depressed set apart from their better halves. Prior to their coupling the knight established a belief to never have interest in romantic love while the queen was set in a marriage that left her trapped and unhappy. Guigemar is cursed to have a wound only cured by a woman’s love; he is then sent by an apparent fate to the queen of a city across the shores. The attraction between them sparks quickly and is purely based on desire, but desire within romantic love is the selfishness of it. True love rests on a foundation that is above mere desire for another person. In truth, the selfishness of desire is the
In France’s “Lanval,” Marie de France emphasizes the ideal and pure body of Lanval’s Fairy Queen. France describes the Fairy Queen as “elegant, her hips slim, her neck whiter than snow on a branch, her eyes bright, her face white, a beautiful mouth…” (France, 109). The Fairy Queen is presented to the reader as the classic, ideal beauty that captures the attention and, unknowingly, the mind of her lover. After meeting the Fairy Queen, Lanval pledges his life to her. He states, “There is nothing you might command, within my power, that I would not do, whether foolish or wise. I shall obey your command…” (France, 108). ...
Marie Antoinette Josèphe Jeanne de Habsbourg-Lorraine was born in the mid-eighteenth century as an archduchess and princess, to Maria Teresa, the Austrian Empress, at the very apex of the European hierarchal pyramid. She was an essential part to the oldest royal European house, as it became known that her sole duty in life was to unite the two great powers and long-term enemies of Austria-Hungary and France by marriage. She was brutally overthrown by her own starving people and portrayed to the world as a villain and abuser of power, whereas sympathy for the young queen should be shown.
Tristan makes himself into the perfectly chivalric knight. This is the view from the outside, however, he is clever and cunning outwitting the King to pursue his love. Iseult is the wife of King Mark, Tristan’s uncle, and Lord. Tristan and Iseult both individually owe complete loyalty to King Mark. At the end of any competition, it is customary to give something
According to Capellanus, “Good character alone makes any man worthy of love”. In Lanval, the fairy lover chooses Lanval because he is “worthy and courtly” (Lawall 1319). Lanval gladly accepts the fairy’s love. He promises to “abandon all others for [her]” (Lawall 1319). Capellanus also says that “a true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved”. Therefore, Lanval loves his fairy lover solely. When the Queen offers her love to Lanval, he rejects her because his heart is devoted to his fairy lover. His beloved is one whom he “prized above all others” (Lawall 1320). Lanval desires no one more than his fairy lover. She provides him with “great joy and pleasure” that he can forego the other pleasures of the world (Lawall 1320). The claim she has on him is like that of a king’s.