Did anyone else notice any loose threads in this story?
Let’s review:
Yvain goes to the spring to defeat the knight guarding it
and avenge his cousin’s honor. Once he gets stuck in the lady’s castle, his
love for the lady aside, his honor prevents him from escaping and returning
home: “Since no one would ever believe in the success of his quest [unless he
brought the corpse with him], he was ashamed to leave” (de Troyes 275).
However, when King Arthur’s entire court arrives to the castle after Yvain
marries his lady, no one??? Asks??? About his vengeance quest??? Does that not
matter anymore?
The lady (hereafter referred to as Magic Spring Lady, because
she has no name but she does have a
magic spring) asks Yvain, “And would you dare undertake the defense of my
spring for me?” (de Troyes 281). Yvain says he will, and we see him protect the
spring from Unferth Kay, but when he goes away, who protects the spring?
Yvain and Magic Spring Lady add exceptions to their agreement in case Yvain is
imprisoned or becomes too ill to move, but they completely forget the spring.
Isn’t the spring important? It seems important. It is ridiculously beautiful,
almost indescribable, and guarded by a fierce fighter. Why wouldn’t Magic
Spring Lady remember her magic spring? Who’s defending the spring now that
Yvain has been away from Magic Spring Land for too long? I can’t imagine Magic
Spring Lady doing it. She seems like she would much rather fight with words
than with lance and shield. (Maybe she made Lunete do it . . .)
A vavasor and a beautiful maiden provide hospitality to both
Calogrenant and Yvain while the knights are on their way to Magic Spring Land.
We never hear from either of them again. Do they just . . . kind of . . . not
actually matter? I would’ve thought the maiden at least would have mattered,
just because beautiful women tend to matter in these kinds of stories. But . .
. I guess not?
Maybe the next part of the story will tie up at least one of
these loose ends. Maybe we’ll hear more about the sun and the moon.
Source (PSA: always credit the artist)
I pledge that I have neither given nor received any
unauthorized aid on this assignment.
Miranda A. Barrientos
Hey Miranda!
ReplyDeleteI think I can answer, at least, your first question about the lack of questions about his vengeance quest. I think they don't ask Yvain about his quest because it is kind of a given. He's there and he's married to the queen. The fact that he is even alive and now has a throne to back him up would be proof enough. I think he needed proof before when his life was uncertain but now that he is safe and has status he doesn't need to give over proof to his friends because he's got the girl and the crown. The dead king/knight now becomes insignificant because obviously Yvain had to kill him in order to come out on top.
If he had managed to escape the castle with no proof, then Kay would have ragged on him about it and it's possible that he could have been shamed as a result. But since he's fine, and doing quite well in the world, I think his success speaks for itself.
Great questions!!
"Magic Spring Lady"s name = Laudine (page 283, near top in brackets)
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your question about the vavasor's daughter. He seemed very captivated by her beauty and usually when this happens, the fella has to make the woman his entire world. I guess that was a bit refreshing how he could marvel at her beauty but didn't make a huge leap for her like the other knights have done in previous stories. I do think that his quest should have been touched on just because he did not return out of fear of what the people would say if he didn't show proof. Just because he showed up alive doesn't really mean he survived...he could have just turned around and came back. I guess that goes against the whole honor code but still!
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