3/27 The Knight's Tale (Accidentally did The Knight of the Cart - whoops)

So, I accidentally posted for 3/27 The Knight of the Cart and not The Knight's Tale...this is awkward.

Being perfectly honest, I'm a bit confused with the beginning. Exactly what happened with Palamon and Arcite? It sounded like they were on Death's door, but then were imprisoned? Did I read that correctly? And am I right in thinking they lived because they were related to the previous ruler as they are both cousins, yes? So very confused.

Know what I'm not confused about?

Freaking love at first sight. Seriously. We all know how this is going to go. At least one of them is going to die - can't be having a love triangle up in here. But seriously, leave the poor woman alone. She's just minding her own business, and both Palamon and Arcite are like, "le gasp A beautiful maiden walking before me after all this time in jail? My heart's suddenly beating really fast. Must be my one true love!"

And then Arcite gets the freak outta jail and is moaning about how unlucky he is to no longer be imprisoned, but his life sucks because he can't see the pretty lady. Know what this reminds me of? Fucking Achilles.

Jesus, I have so many feelings about men acting like absolute babies when they can't have the woman they "fell in love" with/ the woman that's "theirs" because ultimately, Palamon and Arcite fight over Emelye, and the poor woman's like, "Please no. Leave me out of this. I just want to run around the forest all day and be free."

Can. We. Not.

4/10 Sir Orfeo - Orpheus with a Happy Ending

So this is my first time reading Sir Orfeo (and I keep wanting to spell it Orpheo), but it was similar enough to Orpheus that it was like I had already read it. I think it was nice to give it a happy ending, although thanks to the book Goddess of Spring, by P.C. Cast, I can no longer think of Orpheus as a good guy. This story was actually quite nice to read. I believe this was already said in class, but just how did the Queen meet the Fairy King? I know magic

but I know I'd like a short story telling how it happened...quite possibly I'd be more interested in the Fairy King's story instead. That could be interesting. I'd love to know exactly why it is that the Fairy King chose those people. In Orpheus, they would have been the dead down in Hades, with the Fairy King actually being Hades (and it follows that the Fairy Queen, who would be Persephone, is the one that is moved by Orfeo's music), but what exactly is the Fairy King doing with all those people? It's not like he has a use for them (most are in the between of dying) nor is there a point to him having them, so why?

Also, something of interest to note that was not brought up during class is that the ending of the story is incredibly similar to the ending of The Odyssey.

Both (Orfeo and Odysseus) are away from their kingdom for several years and when they return, they are disguised as beggars and test the people who serve them before revealing themselves. The only difference is that Odysseus straight up slaughters a lot of people while there is no bloodshed with Orfeo. I do think it's interesting to have the same kind of ending, with the whole disguise and revealing of oneself. Do you think that that was pulled from Odysseus or another story as apparently this is a thing in many stories (although I'm drawing a blank)? I think so, but that could be because I'm rather partial to The Odyssey.

One final note, which ties back to the Fairy King, but why bother changing Hades to the Fairy King to begin with? I understand putting your own spin on things, but was there really a point to altering the character? If the Fairy King had remained as Hades, would the story have been that drastically different? Perhaps Orfeo wouldn't have seen his Queen during the march in the woods since Hades is known to generally remain in Hades, but there are times that Hades comes out from his realm. It's not very often, but it happens. So what was the point? Was it just because fairies were a big thing or was it taking a Greek myth and making it their own with their own mythological/ fantastical creatures? Food for thought with a answer we may never know because the author's dead, but it happens.

3/27 The Knight of the Cart and Man with the Hair Fetish

So this is the second time that I've read this story, and I can honestly say every time, I have been severely disturbed by Lancelot's behavior and my image of him shattered (much like Guinevere, but it wasn't much of a fall...never particularly liked her). From this:

to smothering hair all over his face and body and getting pleasure from it, perhaps disturbing isn't as strong of a word as I would like.
https://youtu.be/YYEQqnvFwqQ?t=2m36s
^^Wouldn't let me put in the video, so link ya go (start at 2:54-3:00)

The father's reaction is completely my reaction to Lancelot this entire story. Boy needs Jesus. Also, how is it that Lancelot didn't die from all of his spacing out, besides he is a super strong knight? What would happen if someone shot arrows at him? Would he straight up dodge them or grab them midair, like a bad ass (which I guess is exactly what he did with the flaming spear...huh)?

Either way, I feel like Lancelot is so not the knight anyone should be looking up to. Yes, he's Arthur's strongest, most "loyal" knight. Yes, he's the one who saved Guinevere, but in being obsessed (yes, obsessed, because there is no other word for what Lancelot is towards Guinevere), he almost let a maiden be raped in her own home. This is the same maiden who offered him food and shelter (even if in return, he was to sleep with her, and the entire time, he was an awkward banana, like if you don't like it, freaking walk out, bro. You didn't need to stay at her place. Stop being a bitch), and yet when she's about to be raped in her own home, and I believe her own bed, he hesitates at the door, not because there are big, scary men at the door, but because he is ashamed of himself for taking food and shelter at this woman's house when his every waking moment (which in his mind, should be ever moment), should be dedicated to saving Guinevere. That is not a man any one should aspire to be like, nor is his relationship with Guinevere a healthy one. It's downright toxic and no wonder it leads to Camelot's downfall (but let's be honest, that's on Arthur too for murdering children just to be rid of Mordred...great advice, Merlin).  

Love at first sight

One of my favorite things about this is when Arcite and Palamon fall in love with Emelye “at first sight.” Simply because this is so common in stories but I personaly don’t believe it is real. I never hear about it in real life so the idea that it is consistently placed in stories is interesting. In my eyes it kind of shows what people desire and that’s to be able to do that.

But, it also shows how shallow people can be in terms of what they are looking for which is honestly just arm candy and that is prevalent In stories especially this one. Both men “fell in love,” with someone they didn’t even actually know. All they cared about was how she looked and how beautiful she was. What I also noticed was that they fought over her, two cousins fought over a woman.

 I always here people joke about women tearing families apart and I also see it in a lot of older fictional stories. It’s just crazy how much power women have over men simply by how they look and nothing else. What happened to personality? What if she was just a compelte A-hole? Would they still just care about what she looks like? lol To be honest I’m not really sure which one had it worse because me personally would rather have my freedom but if you look at it in their eyes is life better free if they can’t be with the love of their life (then again either way they can’t really BE with her) so I don’t understand what the big deal is. It seems to me that freedom was more important because he left when I guess technically he could have stayed to be able to see her. Also, why did he leave his cousin behind? Why didn’t he try to get him set free also. Questions I have.