Bisclavret's The Wedding Of Marie De France

Recently the gallery show of Vigee Le Brun: Woman Artist of Revolutionary France opened up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Vigee Le Brun is best known as one of the most infamous artists at the time, as she was a woman, and women were not expected to enter the world of art, and better yet, not expected to become one of the most influential artists at the time to paint the portraits of many important figures in pre-revolutionary France. Vigee Le Brun painted multiple portraits of Marie Antoinette, queen of France, wife of King Louis XVI, and mother of four. Other painters. Vigee Le Brun was one of few who could paint out the queen’s charm.

Although the Knight’s wife possibly could’ve jeopardized Gawain’s future, Gawain’s will was to strong and he was not seduced. However, on the final day, the Green Knight’s wife offers a sash to Gawain promising to him that it offer divine protection “For the man who goes to battle in this green lace . . . no man under Heaven can hurt him, whoever may try,” (l. 223 – 225). This is a pivotal part of the story because Gawain’s next decision could have a major impact on his future.

The following day Bisclavert’s ex-wife attends the king’s court and presents the king with gifts. Bisclarvet catches sight of her and attacks the wife, tearing off her nose. The king’s court is again surprised by the behavior of Bisclarvet and demand an explanation from the wife. The wife explains how she betrayed Bisclavret and took away his clothes so he would remain a wolf forever. The king demands that the wife return the clothes.

In “Lanval” by Marie de France, Lanval is a hero, though parts of his journey are sometimes hard to identify as herioc. Lanval’s story follows the basic elements of the monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, when read closely. He begins his journey in a vaguely unsatisfying ordinary world where he is unappreciated and where “he could see nothing that pleased him” (52). Leaving that world, he enters into the world of Queen Semiramis, wherein he is not only beloved of the Queen but assured that “he would never again want anything / he would receive as he desired” (135-36). When Lanval is challenged by his Lady “if this love were known / you would never see me again”, he accepts his quest readily (148-49).

In this Middle Ages chivalry romance, women are the ones who are manipulating the minds of men. For example, the main woman, Lady Bertalik, is able to seduce her way into Sir Gawain’s mind, manipulating him to kiss her whenever she pleases and to accept her gifts. When the two meet, she initiates the idea of a kiss, “…so long with a lady could hardly have lingered without craving a kiss, as a courteous knight, by some tactful turn that their talk led to,” in order to ‘prove’ his courtesy (Tolkien Page 73). Sir Gawain easily accepts, “Very well, as you wish it to be done. I will kiss at your command,” without any idea that she is his host’s wife (Page 73).

Everyone in the king’s court knew that the knight must’ve done something very horrendous to Bisclavret in order for him to act in such a horrifying way. When Bisclavret sees his ex-wife

Major continuities and changes regarding various views of women in the years between 1450 and 1700 include both the continuation of disdain towards women and the emergence of the idea that women are equal to men. Women were often thought to be of less value than men, an idea that originated early in history and progressed throughout this time period. Some men and women began to speak out against inequality and, whether directly or indirectly, influenced new ideas causing others to believe in the power of women. Many views of women in the years between 1450 and 1700 continued to show the age old idea of women being seen as the inferior gender. James Sprenger and Henry Kramer wrote that women are more likely to be attacked by the devil because they are more naive than men (1).

”(line 491-496). With this in mind, Beowulf and the wife in both the poem and the

Mariah Hobbs English 295-014 9 February 2018 Unit 1: Analytical Essay Marie De France's Lanval In Marie De France's short narrative poem, Lanval, she illustrates through her characters how love, desire and fidelity go hand and hand. Lanval is described as, "a very noble vassal" (line 3) of King Arthurs court but soon becomes troubled by desire's temptations. Many of Marie De France's lays contain elements of magic and mystery. In this case, she tells the story of a human and a supernatural being becoming lovers and the connection between the two different worlds.

Although the Monster framed Justine for William’s murder, the Daemon before announced how beautiful she was. He said, “‘Awake, fairest, thy lover is near- he who would give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes: my beloved,

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales are two pieces of British literature that are incredibly interesting and thorough. Women play important roles in both of the texts. Throughout Sir Gawain and The Green Knight there are several important females present. The women being Guinevere for a short period of time, Lady Bertilak, and Morgan Le Fay. Guinevere is presented at the beginning of the text before The Green Knight barges into the castle, and is presented as the standard of beauty.

By him telling his wife, conflict has already started. Bisclavaret’s wife wonders where he puts his clothing and he replies, “Within this wood, a little from the path, there is a hidden way, and at the end thereof an ancient chapel, where oftentimes I have bewailed my lot. Near by is a great hollow stone, concealed by a bush, and there is the secret place where I hide my raiment, till I would return to my own home” (598). After he tells his wife where he goes to put his clothing, she no longer wants to be with him anymore. She turns her love to a knight that always wanted her but could never get her.

“But no wonder if a fool should fall for a female and be wiped of his wits by womanly guile- it’s the way of the world.” (Armitage: 181,2414-2416) Gawain blames all of his troubles the past year on women. Not people who might’ve gotten in his way, or the lord of the manor, but specifically woman.

Medieval Women Are Not What You Think They Are Women of the medieval times are not like women today, women in the medieval times were known to be cunning and manipulative. In the book “The Prologue” to Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Chaucer gives us details about a Nun who is shown as manipulative and cunning and that it is also a trend for medieval women to be manipulative and cunning not only her. “The Prologue” is about how author Geoffrey Chaucer goes on a pilgrimage and takes note about the people that he views. On his pilgrimage there is a Nun who does things that nuns would not typically do such as wear red lipstick. Chaucer then continues to write about how she is not your typical nun and shows manipulative and cunning traits.

The Wife’s Story Ursula K. Leguin is a short story describing a wife retrospective of her husband who she thought of as a loving and caring father and husband a somewhat perfect person always gentle. Yet he had a fatal flaw that led to his death that the wife failed to recognize until it was too late. Throughout the story, the wife recounts important events that led to his deaths events that should have been clues to aid her to recognize the flaw within her husband. In the story, Leguin shows us how the wife’s perception was deceiving her. She was looking at her husband but couldn’t see him for whom he really was.