But on top of that the dwarf is driving a cart which is supposedly reserved for criminals and the dishonorable. Anyone seen riding in one immediately is looked down upon and unwelcome in the area. It is the ultimate ride of shame followed closely by the prisoner's walk to death. In what world would you ever want to get in one (especially as a knight) knowing you were going to lose all of your honor and standing?
Yet, Lancelot does it anyway . . .
The romantic in me wants to swoon at this. Lancelot is risking everything - his honor, his standing, his reputation - all in hopes that by doing as the dwarf asks he will get the information to his loves whereabouts. He is choosing love over honor (a major necessity during this time). SUPER romantic! And it worked to a point, I guess. He did end up finding Guinevere but the man almost got killed in the process just trying to sleep in a bed. And then the dwarf just disappears out of nowhere! Again, I'm not sure why this part irritated me as much as it did, but it seems almost like too much drama and reputational sacrifice for something that could have been resolved in another way.
On one hand I like him (like I assume I am meant to). He is daring and brave and nearly perfect - the best kind of hero in any story. But there is something wrong. Something that my hopeless romantic mind is refusing to overlook with this particular scene yet I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps that is where my overall irritation is stemming from.
I feel like my biggest problem with Lancelot is that he is kinda dumb? Like even though he is making all his stupid decisions in the name of love... they are still pretty freaking stupid decisions. He's basically a dumb jock who is brave and always win, but probably wouldn't do so well in an exam. Even though I appreciate that he is doing all this for his love... he is also pretty much an idiot.
ReplyDeleteThalia, this story -- version of this couples (Guen and Lance) interaction -- appears exceptionally dramatic and in that light, Lancelot's jump into the cart bringing untold humiliation on to himself, especially being a great knight, seems the perfect (if not ridiculous) amuntion Chretien needs to set up his dramatic, Houdini-like escape from such a low place for a knight of such standing. Nonetheless, I was constantly irritated as well, reading along, waiting for his redemption. The dwarfs represent such a displeasing element, it's hard not be irritated -- Chretien loves our misfortune through Lance's eyes, I'm sure.
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