If I
read this story right, I believe it serves as a companion story to “The Knight
of the Cart”. Both stories talk about love in two entirely different ways. While Lancelot and Guinevere show the major
follies of acts of love, I think Yvain presents the very noble aspect of the
virtue. Of course, this must include a
lady in which Yvain falls deeply in love with…duh…but I’m way more interested
in the almost brotherly love portrayed in this story.
First, with the lion. The lion is so devoted to his master, he
almost kills himself out of grief when he thinks his master is dead. “Never have I heard told or described such
grief, “the narrator says (298). It also
says he “threw himself about, clawing himself and screaming” (298). This is not
unlike the lady at the beginning of the story whose lord was killed by
Yvain. So the story also shows the
importance of grief. It humbles you,
makes you human. And I think that’s why
I grew to like that lion so much. And
the people did too, after they saw his devotion to his master. I gotta admit, though, I was scared he wouldn’t
make it. And honestly, I would’ve been pissed.
But I think the best portrayal of this is when Yvain tells King Arthur’s
people not to be afraid of him: “Do not
fear or harm the lion you see approaching, “ he says, “Please believe me. He is
mine and I am his” (334). It’s only an
animal and the story makes me love him just as much.
Next, the whole fight
with Sir Gawain pulled at my heart strings.
Of course the readers know who each of the knights is, but they
certainly don’t (I won’t even address how stupid that notion is). So the whole
time, they’re fighting each other and I’m just like NOOOOOO he’s your companion
too! Anyway, one of the most palpable parts of this story is when Chrétien
personifies Love and Hate. Just like in “The
Knight of the Cart,” Love is a character.
But here, I don’t think it’s used as an excuse for an act, but rather I
think we’re meant to see love in an
optimistic light—one that stops hate. “Now
Hate is ready for the forward attack, spurring and pricking against Love
whenever he can, and Love does not even stir” (329). I find that absolutely
beautiful. When they recognize each
other and cease fighting, King Arthur says,
there is great love between you and prove this when each declares his own
defeat” (333).
I think that Yvain
represents everything Lancelot doesn’t.
He’s noble, not a hypocrite, and does everything—successfully—to nobly
gain his woman back. These two stories
coupled together teach us parallel lessons about love and nobility, just in
different ways.
And
all of this started because Kay had to be a dick.
