Chretien de Troyes and Lancelot - Book Report/Review Example

Chrtien de Troyes and Lancelot I. Introduction Theme: Chrtien depicted the concept of courtly love in various ways through the character of Lancelot and his affair with Guinevere. II. Historical Overview Assessment of Chrtien's genre and discussion of historical context under which Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart was written III. Discussion - The Author and His Character Discussion of the main theme with reference to the actual text IV. Conclusion Evaluation of Chrtien's work and moral of the story V. Bibliography I. Introduction As a notable French poet, Chrtien de Troyes (c.1170-c.1185) is one of the foremost contributors in the Arthurian legend. His works were largely influenced by popular legend and history as well as his personal relations. With this, he instilled his romances with the ideals of chivalry prevalent in the twelfth century and in light of his attachment with his patroness ("The Columbia Encyclopedia," p.108). Chrtien is as one of the first writers who adopted the literary theme of courtly love in his work. The theme I am focusing on is how Chrtien related this virtue and its resulting complexities to Lancelot, his brainchild, in his narrative romance Lancelot, le chevalier de la charette (Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart). II. Historical Overview Literary experts have minimal knowledge regarding the biographical facts pertaining to Chrtien. However, it is reckoned that he was born about the same time that Geoffrey of Monmouth was publishing History of the Kings of Britain (Hamilton). What is considered certain is that Chrtien wrote in Champagne, France during the last half of the twelfth century and that he lived in Troyes as the court of Countess Marie de Champagne, his patroness, between 1160 and 1181 ("Chrtien de Troyes," Wikipedia). Chrtien was closely associated, perhaps as herald-at-arms, with Countess Marie, daughter of Eleanor de Aquitaine, who eventually became the queen of England in view of her marriage to Henry II. According to studies, it is from his attachment to the Countess that Chrtien's keen interest in court life and love flourished. For him, "The Countess is worth as many queens as a gem is worth of pearls and sards," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.207). The introduction of Lancelot and his love affair with Guinevere, Arthur's wife, to the Arthurian legend is attributed to Chrtien. It is in Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart that Lancelot's character blossoms into full form (Hamilton). He created the romance at the behest of Countess Marie. With this he openly dedicated Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart to the Countess, "Since my lady of Champagne wishes me to undertake to write a romance, I shall very gladly do so, being so devoted to her service as to do anything in the world for her," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.207). Unfortunately, he did not finish this work himself. The last thousand lines were said to be completed by Godefroi de Leigni. Based on numerous speculations, Chrtien is said to exhibit a negative attitude towards this poem primarily because he did not approved of its adulterous subject. Some scholars also suggest that Chrtien may have been uninterested in the literary theme his patroness insisted upon him. Instead, he opted to devote more of his time on writing Yvain, the Knight of the Lion. ("Chrtien de Troyes," Wikipedia) III. Discussion - The Author and His Character In his work Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart, Chrtien focuses on Lancelot as a major character in the Arthurian legend. The plot concentrates mainly on Guinevere being kidnapped by Meleagant and rescued by Lancelot, who is deeply in love with her. With the mission of liberating Guinevere, Lancelot untiringly proves his love for the Queen as evidenced by his myriad adventures. These marvels and trials revolve around the central theme of Chrtien's masterpiece - Lancelot's love for Guinevere. In Lancelot's character, Chrtien revealed a vital aspect of knighthood, i.e. love. This section focuses on the manner by which the author relates love to his major character. Even at the onset of the narrative, Chrtien already revealed much about the virtue of love. One of the points he asserts is that a person who is in love is prepared to put his/her reputation at stake if such is needed to save the one he/she loves. To prove this point, Lancelot readily rode the cart in order to extract information from the dwarf regarding the Queen's whereabouts. He is fully aware that such would cause him great humiliation because "In those days such a cart served the same purpose as does a pillory now...Whoever was convicted of any crime was placed upon a cart and dragged through all the streets, and he lost henceforth all his legal rights, and was never afterward heard, honoured, or welcomed in any court," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.207). Although he shows slight hesitation, which he would later on regret, Lancelot willingly steps in the cart and is taunted by spectators. Even Gawain, another courageous knight spearheading the search for Queen Guinevere, is not able to perform such sacrifice. On the other hand, Lancelot "...jumps in, since love will have it so, feeling no concern about the shame, since he is prompted by love's commands," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.211) Another notion about love Chrtien presents through Lancelot is that a lover could not care less about risking his/her life if only for the sake of rescuing the one he/she loves. When Lancelot is informed about the dangers he is facing in crossing the waterbridge to reach the place where the Queen is held captive, "His thoughts are such that he totally forgets himself, and he knows not whether he is alive or dead, forgetting even his own name, not knowing whether he is armed or not, or whither he is going or whence he came," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.215). In this regard, Chrtien relates the virtue of love with selflessness since despite being confronted with all the ordeals, "Only one creature he has in mind, and for her his thought is so occupied that he neither sees nor hears ought else..." (Chrtien de Troyes, "The Knight of the Cart", p. 216). As such, Lancelot manages to unconsciously disobey Gawain in spite of the latter's vehement warnings not to enter the ford. With all his might, as if in a trance, he advances and only comes into his senses when he comes in contact with the chilling water and wonders why Gawain strikes him. Aside from this, Chrtien also contends that one who is truly in love is loyal to his/her lover. With this, Lancelot is depicted as manifestly faithful in his love to Guinevere as he refuses to sleep with the fair maiden. To the latter's astonishment, she asks the reason for his refusal, the author narrates, "Because his heart does not go out to her. She was fair and winsome, but not every one is pleased and touched by what is fair and winsome. The knight has only one heart, and this one is really no longer his, but has been entrusted to some one else, so that he cannot bestow it elsewhere," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.222). This means that Lancelot's heart as his body is considered taken, thus, he has no liberty to give it to someone else. Chrtien also emphasizes that courtly love entails obedience given that Lancelot willingly does the Queen's biddings. In doing so, Lancelot is described as, "The man who is a perfect lover...always obedient and quickly and gladly does his mistress' pleasure. So Lancelot was constrained to do his lady's will, for he loved more than Pyramis, if that were possible for any man to do..." (Chrtien de Troyes, "The Knight of the Cart", p. 253). More importantly, Chrtien stresses that love makes someone a better person. Lancelot's love for Guinevere hones him to be an ideal knight who is able to consistently defeat his challengers. This virtue strengthened his character as he helps others along his journey. When he effortlessly moves the lid of stone to free those enslaved, the hermit describes Lancelot as, "...bent upon the rescue of the Queen, and doubtless he will rescue her, as well as all the other people...No knight was ever born of man and woman, and no knight ever sat in a saddle, who was equal of this man," (Chrtien, "The Knight of the Cart," p.231). Lancelot, with the consistency of his character, earns the respect and admiration of all those he encounters even the young knight and lad who accompanied him to where the Queen is imprisoned. On the contrary, as Lancelot embodies this virtue, Chrtien also used this character to show that reason and love are conflicting concepts. Throughout the text, Lancelot is made to look and behave foolishly in light of his overwhelming emotions towards Guinevere ("Models of Knighthood in Chrtien de Troyes"). For instance, when Lancelot hears Guinevere speak his name, "...he was not slow to turn around; he turns and sees seated up there at the window of the tower whom he desired most in the world to see. From the moment he caught sight of her, he did not turn or take his eyes and face from her, defending himself with backhand blows," (Chrtien de Troyes, "The Knight of the Cart", p. 251). It is in this instance that Meleagant decides to aggressively assault Lancelot. Furthermore, the two "star-crossed lovers" both wish for death, with Lancelot attempting suicide and Guinevere refusing to eat, when they hear the erroneous news about each other's death. Apart from this, irrational behavior is also seen in Guinevere as she snubs Lancelot after having defended her from Meleagant due to the latter's hesitation in loading the cart. IV. Conclusion As Lancelot is said to have exemplified the love that is needed in a courtly knight, some critics believe that Lancelot is, in a way, vilified for carrying on an adulterous affair with Guinevere (Hamilton). This dilemma has been clearly depicted as a vital dimension of the narrative. Moreover, instead of featuring an aspect of knightly virtues, other modern critics regard Lancelot as a deliberate parody at courtly love. With this, treatment of the story has been attributed to Countess Marie's influence over the author and his story given the departure from Chrtien's usual style (Vaasjoki). Despite the criticisms of Chrtien's treatment of the theme in his narrative, the concept of courtly love he presents has been greatly influential on other authors, who dealt with this theme. Chrtien sets the standard of this theme through Lancelot, who is deemed as the quintessence of such virtue. Although Chrtien, in this work, asserts the absolute contradiction between love and rationality as exemplified by how Lancelot and Guinevere behave in each other's presence, it is important to realize how the powerful virtue of love enables a person to confront myriad hardships and successfully go through life's trials, in the same way that Lancelot survived his tribulations for the sake of Guinevere. This has been, most probably, the key point which endears Chrtien's work to readers across generations. V. Bibliography Chrtien de Troyes, Kibler, W.B. (trans.), "The Knight of the Cart." Arthurian Romances. Penguin Classics. 1991. Research Citation The Columbia Encyclopedia 6th ed. Columbia University Press. 2005. Hamilton, A. P. Explorations in Arthurian Legends - A Literature Review. DW and DDT Media Productions, Ltd. 2000. 01 February 2006 Models of Knighthood in Chrtien de Troyes. 2003. 01 February 2006 Vaasjoki, S. Courtly love in the work of Chrtien de Troyes. 01 February 2006 Wikipedia. 2005. 01 February 2006 Read More