Lola was the real hero in the movie. There was complete devotion on her part as she told him to jot do anything, she would come up with a plan to get him out of the fix he was in. She runs everywhere for him to try and get the amount that he needs by 12. Manni relys on her though he does try to fix it without her. They both thought of each other before they die. They seem to go back to a significant moment in their relationship where they question the love and faithfulness of each other to the other.
The music in the movie seems to go with the purpose of why Lola is running. The lyrics kind of match it, even though I don't remember what they were I know I remember watching it I though there was a little irony in the words to the song. The sounds like the ticking of the clock signify a point inthe movie. The ticking let us know that there was not a lot of time for Lola or Manni, and the speed change showed a change in the urgency of the scene.
It seems that they got to retry getting the money over and over until they got it right. There was small significant changes like the scene with the boy and the dog on the staircase, the boy on the bike, the lady pushing the stroller, the guy in the car and with her father. The first change in beginning set off the rest of I changing the timing of everything and how it ended up in the end. I mean third times the charm and they seem to get it right not only with getting the money from the bum but also winning money for themselves.
They both seem to grow as characters and each realizing the significance if the other like when they die or are about to and it goes red. The color red to me means that they are dying and it's their last thoughts are their worst fears or something that they had wanted resolved and didn't or something that is happening that they never thought would. Each were concerned with what would happen if the other died, if they would love or remember ten, remain faithful to them. Lola as a person evolves from being helpless and crying for herself and resulting in following in Manni's plan and ending in getting shot; she comes out at the end with becoming resourceful and getting the money in a legal way. She also stands up to her father sort of in the second time around though the last one she didn't get a chance as he died in the end and left before she could catch him with his lover. Manni grows a little too to me, with not rushing to rob the store in the end but catching the bum and getting the money to his friend.
I found it interesting about the previews of what happened to the people Lola runs into in the movie and how it changes everytime she makes a change. I don't know the significance of it but I found it interesting though I don't know the reason why it is there in the movie. And the fairy tale part was to me the way they got to redo the way the ending happened, and it ended up that neither died and both gained wealth and neither were harmed physically or emotionally. A happy ending as all fairy tales have to have.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Yvain Part 3
There is a lot of saving the damsels in distress and it seems like there is only one guy to do it, like no other man is capable of doing anything. I mean why can't all the guys get together and form a plan to protect their land ever? Why does a guy and his pet have to do all the work and heroic stuff? The hero's job is looking as bad as being the president, everyone wants something from you and you try every way you can to please them. I mean he rushed from saving one damsel to another as if no one else could do it only Yvain could. They also weren't just men he was fighting, he was fighting demons and giants, the guy never gets a break, it is as if they believe him immortal, that he is God and that nothing and no one can defeat him.
Chretien speaks a lot about of love and how people don't really know what it is, and that those who think that they do don't really do. He speaks to us in the present and how we don't really know what love is anymore. There are so many divorces that go on, no one really stays with one person, thoughts are confused when it comes to the top of love, everyone has an ideal image about it but they either don't reach for it or the thoughts they thought were ideal were far from it. I like the reference to the god of love when they talked about the beautiful maiden girl that was said to even make the god Eros turn human, and shot himself with his own arrows for her.
Maidens in this story are made to seem so beautiful yet so empty headed and with no way or thought to protect themselves except to go out in search of a man to do it for them. Are females without wit and planning to come up with a way to resolve things among st themselves? I mean even the sisters could not resolve a feud without males. The males resolution or way to seek a resolution is through combat. It seems that there is no way for them to just lay down their arms and to just talk it out. I mean only after, when Yvain and Gwain fought, giving each other multiple injuries and figure out the identity of the other does King Author offer a diplomatic solution.
Chretien has a lot different allusions, though I don't understand most of them, they make me curious with questions like, the pattern with the numbers, how there is a reference to 500, it is a common number in the texts. What is the meaning behind the lion? There is a lot of personification, like that of Death and of the lion. I'm still trying to figure out what the fountain means in the story and why it does what it does.
The story had more allusions and metaphors than that of Erec and Enide and I liked it better for it.
Chretien speaks a lot about of love and how people don't really know what it is, and that those who think that they do don't really do. He speaks to us in the present and how we don't really know what love is anymore. There are so many divorces that go on, no one really stays with one person, thoughts are confused when it comes to the top of love, everyone has an ideal image about it but they either don't reach for it or the thoughts they thought were ideal were far from it. I like the reference to the god of love when they talked about the beautiful maiden girl that was said to even make the god Eros turn human, and shot himself with his own arrows for her.
Maidens in this story are made to seem so beautiful yet so empty headed and with no way or thought to protect themselves except to go out in search of a man to do it for them. Are females without wit and planning to come up with a way to resolve things among st themselves? I mean even the sisters could not resolve a feud without males. The males resolution or way to seek a resolution is through combat. It seems that there is no way for them to just lay down their arms and to just talk it out. I mean only after, when Yvain and Gwain fought, giving each other multiple injuries and figure out the identity of the other does King Author offer a diplomatic solution.
Chretien has a lot different allusions, though I don't understand most of them, they make me curious with questions like, the pattern with the numbers, how there is a reference to 500, it is a common number in the texts. What is the meaning behind the lion? There is a lot of personification, like that of Death and of the lion. I'm still trying to figure out what the fountain means in the story and why it does what it does.
The story had more allusions and metaphors than that of Erec and Enide and I liked it better for it.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Yvain #2
In this part of the story we hear more from Gwain and he goes and talks to Yvain about his marriage. He talks of how he doesn't want to see Yvain stray away from the manly thing to do as in fight and compete in tournaments. Gwain sees that hte man is in love but he thinks it unwise to be so submissive to his wife that he is having to consult with her with all the decisions that he takes. It seems like a repeat of Erec and Enide, as in both male characters manhood and honor are called into question. Gwain thinks that a woman won't respect a man who isn't manly and doesn't keep doing what he use to do. This argument doesn't seem to help the relationship, it seems that it just tears the couple apart with Yvain consenting to go because he didn't want to dissappoint anyone and though he didn't want to go, he goes anyway. He even asks her to grant her the favour to let him go fo her honour and his. So he's excuse to go is to restore their honour. His wife, Laudine, then makes a conditon that he must return to her before the feast of Saint John. If he didn't return shes says that he would be banished from her love. The agreement is one to make sure the other is faithful and I think I would agree with that, I mean it's a reasonable request seeing as he is leaving to go do manly things because his buddy says that he has to to be a man and maintain honour.
When Yvain does leave to go with Gwain and King Arthur's court he stays longer than her thought. Gwain keeps honouring him and accompanies him everywhere. After a while though, he then reflects and knows that he broke his promise to Laudine. It's been a little more than a year, and "Yvain suddenly began to reflect; since the moment he had taken leave of his lady he had not been so distraught as now" and so he is really feeling bad about breaking the promise to his wife. The guys really loves her though as it says that his heart "clung so tightly to the heart of her who remained behind that he had no power to take it with him." He has left his heart with her and now can not return because she won't have him. She sent a messanger to him to tell him what she thought of him and that she no longer trusted him and he was a cheat and a theif.
Laudine's message was basically that she no longer wanted him and that he was a cheat, seducer and theif. She no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. She says that a true lover wouldn't do what he did, that he wouldn't steal a lady's heart. She told him to give it back to her and would be done with him. He thought about how little he thought of her and how much time he had to get back to her but he took advantage of it. I was surprised that she would do it and that he deserved it. It see
mms to imply that the relationship is over and that there is going to be a fight back for her love by Yvain. He seems to go crazy after that and is subjected to illness and injury even though he was given a ring by Laudine though it only worked if he was thinking about her and staying faithful. In the woods he goes mad, eating raw meat and getting sick. All he wants is to get his wife back. I don't really know what to make of his cure which is him getting slathered in ointment by this girl, he is rejuvinated and made to remember the memories that he lost. It works too well, he is covered with ointment, even though only certain parts should have been.
I don't really recall any connection with mythology, this quesion is one that I can't quite answer. I don't fully understand or comprehend. I think the lion represents Yvain and the snake as Laudine.The dilemma i believe is that Yvain is facing is that he is in love with his wife and is doing eerything in his power to get her back. She seems resistant or others are persuading or making her feel that way. He also seems to be dealing with personal issues toward himself and why he was so selfish and didn't pay attention or think about his wife and how she felt. He was just doing what society expected of him.
When Yvain does leave to go with Gwain and King Arthur's court he stays longer than her thought. Gwain keeps honouring him and accompanies him everywhere. After a while though, he then reflects and knows that he broke his promise to Laudine. It's been a little more than a year, and "Yvain suddenly began to reflect; since the moment he had taken leave of his lady he had not been so distraught as now" and so he is really feeling bad about breaking the promise to his wife. The guys really loves her though as it says that his heart "clung so tightly to the heart of her who remained behind that he had no power to take it with him." He has left his heart with her and now can not return because she won't have him. She sent a messanger to him to tell him what she thought of him and that she no longer trusted him and he was a cheat and a theif.
Laudine's message was basically that she no longer wanted him and that he was a cheat, seducer and theif. She no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. She says that a true lover wouldn't do what he did, that he wouldn't steal a lady's heart. She told him to give it back to her and would be done with him. He thought about how little he thought of her and how much time he had to get back to her but he took advantage of it. I was surprised that she would do it and that he deserved it. It see
mms to imply that the relationship is over and that there is going to be a fight back for her love by Yvain. He seems to go crazy after that and is subjected to illness and injury even though he was given a ring by Laudine though it only worked if he was thinking about her and staying faithful. In the woods he goes mad, eating raw meat and getting sick. All he wants is to get his wife back. I don't really know what to make of his cure which is him getting slathered in ointment by this girl, he is rejuvinated and made to remember the memories that he lost. It works too well, he is covered with ointment, even though only certain parts should have been.
I don't really recall any connection with mythology, this quesion is one that I can't quite answer. I don't fully understand or comprehend. I think the lion represents Yvain and the snake as Laudine.The dilemma i believe is that Yvain is facing is that he is in love with his wife and is doing eerything in his power to get her back. She seems resistant or others are persuading or making her feel that way. He also seems to be dealing with personal issues toward himself and why he was so selfish and didn't pay attention or think about his wife and how she felt. He was just doing what society expected of him.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Yvain #1
So far I am liking the story of Yvain, it seems to be a continuation of the story of Erec and Enide as the same characters are brought in the story like the king and queen and the knights. I think that the reason why the beginning of the story was not the same as the one in Erec and Enide, is that it seems as if its a continuation of the same lesson that Chretien. Or it could be a different way of introducing a new lesson. The story though does take time to talk about how love is not what it meant before, people take it for granted and no one no longer knows what love is and those who think they do know nothing.
The story that Calogrenant told was one that you could see would begin the story and start to off the plot of the story. The strange part to me was that of the man who said he was the lord of the woods and he controlled all the beasts. The description of him brings the image that he is a black man and so there is a bit of race in this book. This is the first time to me that there is a mention of race in the story. Then, the elements that are interesting is that when Calogrenant pours the water over the stone and the weather changes and it starts to rain and thunder, then return to normal is when the knight comes out to challenge him. The reason behind his challenge was that he said Calogrenant had brought damage onto his place and I wonder how that place came to be his and what real damage was done? The place on its own is bizarre the way the water is boiling hot and that the tree always has leaves, seems to never shed or die or change with the weather. Also interesting in this story in the beginning there is alot of references to the bible in it. For example, the reference to Pentecost and Saint John the Baptist.
Looking at the character Yvain, he is a guy who wants to be the hero, as he wants to avenge his cousin from the shame that he endured by the knight. he wants to go and face the knight that shamed his cousin on his own and either come back as a failure or a hero but doesn't want anyone to know before hand. You can get that from when he says "So Yvain, having no desire for their company, did not wait for them; he resolved instead to set off alone, whether it might bring him joy or greif." (pg. 303) He does go and challenges the knight and they fight like the knight did with his cousin. With Yvain though, Yvain is equal to him and he ends up dealing the knight a mortal blow to his head and that has never happened before to him. The knight then flees and Yvain follows because he wants to make sure he won and wants recoginition. The knight who is a lord of a castle ends up dying and Yvain thinks about how he was going show people that he defeated the knight. In the texts it says "He was upset to see them burying the body, since he now had no way of proving that he had killed the knight." If he did not have some proof to show in the assembly, he would be throughly shamed." (pg. 311) he was concerned about what others would think about him and he didn't want Kay to come at him with words that would put him down or provoke him into a fight like Kay usually likes to do. Yvain seems to be a good guy, intelligent but he also seems like a character who will fall into the typical stereotype of a hero with getting the glory and the girl in the end as there is already mention of beautiful women in the story, like the one that is back at the house that he is lodging in and the one who is helping him escape.
The story that Calogrenant told was one that you could see would begin the story and start to off the plot of the story. The strange part to me was that of the man who said he was the lord of the woods and he controlled all the beasts. The description of him brings the image that he is a black man and so there is a bit of race in this book. This is the first time to me that there is a mention of race in the story. Then, the elements that are interesting is that when Calogrenant pours the water over the stone and the weather changes and it starts to rain and thunder, then return to normal is when the knight comes out to challenge him. The reason behind his challenge was that he said Calogrenant had brought damage onto his place and I wonder how that place came to be his and what real damage was done? The place on its own is bizarre the way the water is boiling hot and that the tree always has leaves, seems to never shed or die or change with the weather. Also interesting in this story in the beginning there is alot of references to the bible in it. For example, the reference to Pentecost and Saint John the Baptist.
Looking at the character Yvain, he is a guy who wants to be the hero, as he wants to avenge his cousin from the shame that he endured by the knight. he wants to go and face the knight that shamed his cousin on his own and either come back as a failure or a hero but doesn't want anyone to know before hand. You can get that from when he says "So Yvain, having no desire for their company, did not wait for them; he resolved instead to set off alone, whether it might bring him joy or greif." (pg. 303) He does go and challenges the knight and they fight like the knight did with his cousin. With Yvain though, Yvain is equal to him and he ends up dealing the knight a mortal blow to his head and that has never happened before to him. The knight then flees and Yvain follows because he wants to make sure he won and wants recoginition. The knight who is a lord of a castle ends up dying and Yvain thinks about how he was going show people that he defeated the knight. In the texts it says "He was upset to see them burying the body, since he now had no way of proving that he had killed the knight." If he did not have some proof to show in the assembly, he would be throughly shamed." (pg. 311) he was concerned about what others would think about him and he didn't want Kay to come at him with words that would put him down or provoke him into a fight like Kay usually likes to do. Yvain seems to be a good guy, intelligent but he also seems like a character who will fall into the typical stereotype of a hero with getting the glory and the girl in the end as there is already mention of beautiful women in the story, like the one that is back at the house that he is lodging in and the one who is helping him escape.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Erec and Enide Part 3
I never thought that in the end they would be given a kingdom and named King and Queen. Why could they have eneded up poor or something? Left out in the woods, forget everyone else and just be with each other. No they have to be rewarded for putting up with each others nonsense. I couldn't go through the whole book in detail as I was getting tired of Erec's behavior and Enide trying to do the right thing but failing, though Erec did come to terms with the fact that he hadn't been treating Enide fairly and that he should appreciate her more after she was taken away by the count who wanted to marry her. The proverb did appear in this book, with Enide and Erec and just to show in general that males sometimes don't realize that they're females aren't trying to make them feel unmanly but be their partner and help them out. Females do the same too, they too can take men for granted and don't quite see what a good thing they have until they lose it. This book showed a lot of gender roles that still hold true to today with the man wanting to be the protector and the female only a prize to be won, a possession to be watched over. it also doesn't have to be a gender thing but viewed as a lesser being (being the female) trying to give advice to the higher power (the male). Sometimes those with authority don't want to be told what they are doing wrong and they don't want to hear ideas unless they are their own.
I am a romantic, I love a happy ending but I just did not like this story of this annoying pair at all.
I am a romantic, I love a happy ending but I just did not like this story of this annoying pair at all.
Erec and Enide Part 2
In reading the second part I really want to call Erec a bad word but I don't view it appropriate to put it in the blog post. To comment on Enide she is a bit pathetic in thinking that the reason Erec is acting the way he is to her is because of her. The real reason why he is acting that way is because he isn't man enough to handle that his woman is trying to help him out and he doesn't want to take her advice. He is being unreasonable in being mad at her for telling him that people were talking about him behind his back. It wasn't like she was the one spreading the rumors, she was trying to be loyal and what does she get for trying to help, him telling her to shut up. Wow, what a great way to thank someone and show that you appreciate their thoughtfulness.
In the next part of the book we finally see Enide acknowledged by her given name. They all did not know her name until the ceremony. It's as if she is unimportant just a prize to be won. We see her develop as we read on and see how she is belittled by Erec. Enide is clearly beautiful and that is the only thing people notice about her. She is not seen as a person but as Erec's beautiful wife. Enide though is a loyal faithful wife and a person who has a mind and is wise and thoughtful.
When Enide first speaks it is to tell Erec about the things that are being said about him behind his back. She thinks that it is her duty to and that to show her loyalty she must tell him no matter what. She is wise, and she thinks things through, we hear her talk to herself in her private thoughts and she debates between whether she should say something or not. After she is done explaining herself to him, he seems to say that it is her fault that this happened to him and that they needed to go and tells her to gather her things and they were leaving. I don't believe he liked that he was the last to know and that his wife knew all these faults about him.
I think that after that, Erec's intentions to take her on the journey was to prove to everyone else that he was still a man and to her that he could protect her, he didn't need her to tell him how things were. I mean when he goes out and start to beat up and kill off and then telling the survivors that he spared them and to tell others how he conquered them was basically to boast about his poweress. It could also be that it is a journey to help get Erec and Enide closer, have a closer connection rather than a superficial one. Though it seems that Erec just gets madder and madder at Enide and she just can't seem to hold her tongue she will not be silenced. Everytime they come across and enemy she resists but then spills and tells Erec her thoughts and later after the encounter he just tells her never to speak unless spoken to trying to put her in her place.
She seems to love her husband and she tries to obey him, but she can't help but want to protect him. She has a debate between telling him and not. She is wise to advise him, she just doesn't see that when he reprimands her for it. She belittles herself and sees her as a bad wife when she really isn't. I believe the reason that the narrator allows us access is to see the side of the woman, to get a view of the person behind the man, the one that is being taken for granted, going back to the proverbin the beginning of the book.
I think soon though that Erec is going to wake up and realize how stupid he really is and just go back to adoring his wife.
In the next part of the book we finally see Enide acknowledged by her given name. They all did not know her name until the ceremony. It's as if she is unimportant just a prize to be won. We see her develop as we read on and see how she is belittled by Erec. Enide is clearly beautiful and that is the only thing people notice about her. She is not seen as a person but as Erec's beautiful wife. Enide though is a loyal faithful wife and a person who has a mind and is wise and thoughtful.
When Enide first speaks it is to tell Erec about the things that are being said about him behind his back. She thinks that it is her duty to and that to show her loyalty she must tell him no matter what. She is wise, and she thinks things through, we hear her talk to herself in her private thoughts and she debates between whether she should say something or not. After she is done explaining herself to him, he seems to say that it is her fault that this happened to him and that they needed to go and tells her to gather her things and they were leaving. I don't believe he liked that he was the last to know and that his wife knew all these faults about him.
I think that after that, Erec's intentions to take her on the journey was to prove to everyone else that he was still a man and to her that he could protect her, he didn't need her to tell him how things were. I mean when he goes out and start to beat up and kill off and then telling the survivors that he spared them and to tell others how he conquered them was basically to boast about his poweress. It could also be that it is a journey to help get Erec and Enide closer, have a closer connection rather than a superficial one. Though it seems that Erec just gets madder and madder at Enide and she just can't seem to hold her tongue she will not be silenced. Everytime they come across and enemy she resists but then spills and tells Erec her thoughts and later after the encounter he just tells her never to speak unless spoken to trying to put her in her place.
She seems to love her husband and she tries to obey him, but she can't help but want to protect him. She has a debate between telling him and not. She is wise to advise him, she just doesn't see that when he reprimands her for it. She belittles herself and sees her as a bad wife when she really isn't. I believe the reason that the narrator allows us access is to see the side of the woman, to get a view of the person behind the man, the one that is being taken for granted, going back to the proverbin the beginning of the book.
I think soon though that Erec is going to wake up and realize how stupid he really is and just go back to adoring his wife.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Erec and Enide Part 1
In reading this book I got kind of confused and a little bored with the first pages. It didnt really excite me. It started off as any typical story would with the introduction of the hero, the problem surfacing, the hero going out and facing an enemy and solving the problem, a basic happy ending. It wasn't very entertaining, the plot seemed to simple and the solution to obvious but the whole story wasn't a total bust to put it bluntly.
To follow up with the questions though, starting with question one, I did get lost a couple of times in the story, even in the prologue, I had to think about the question you proposed as I didn't quite understand what the proverb meant. For me, the beginning was an introduction to the point of the story, the reason, the lesson behind it and what to look for in the story. The proverb, "one might find onself holding in contempt something that is worth much more than one believes", I was not sure how to take it as I don't know how it related to any of the characters. I can't really answer the question yet until getting a better understanding the first paragraph of the story.
For question two, going into the openning of the story there is a description of King Arthur and the knights, and introduces the plot of the story with the idea to go out hunting the white stag. The knights are described as "brave and combative and fierce" (pg. 37) and there is a mention of the ladies of the court, rich ladies and maidens and daughters of kings. The contest proses problems as the person that kills the stag gets to kiss the most beautiful maiden in the court. The question is who is that maiden. Lord Gwain advises against this contest as he says that the lady that is chosen will have a knight or nobleman that will not stand for it and take up arms saying that his maiden is the most beautiful. This contest has set the women up as prizes which is saying that for their looks women are prizes to be won and not for anything else. Though it may be an honor to be thought the most beautiful maiden in the whole court, it makes women think superficially and be thought of only worthy enough to be thought of only as a pretty face. Men are seen as the protectors from the way Lord Gwain describes them as well as possessive when he says "there is not a one who is not the favorite of some valiant and bold knight, each of whom would want to control, rightly or wrongly, that the one who pleases him is the most beautiful and most noble." The men won't stand for the woman that they favor to be said that they are not the most beautiful.
In characterizing the two characters both are seen to be beautiful people. It says that they were "evenly matched in courtliness, in beauty, and in great nobility" (pg. 56) meaning that they were the perfect couple in the eyes of others. Erec is described on page thirthy-eight, saying that he is the handsomest knight in the court and that he is young and very accomplished in his knighthood. He is recieved great honour in the court. Enide is described on page forty-two to be the most beautiful creature on earth, that Nature put all her attention on her when creating her and marvelled at her. Isolde is nothing compared to her, everything about her, even when she is wearing worn clothes she is still lovely. They are portrayed as the perfect, ideal couple who both have beauty and class. Though they are from different spectrums, him being from noblility and she from a lower class, a peasant, they are still matched in beauty and in charm. Why the author did not out right say that the maiden was Enide, I don't have any idea, I didn't really think about it or consider that there was anything about. The way she is described as a mirror, when one looks into a mirror one sees a perfect replica of themselves and so to compare looking into a mirror at her is like looking at her is to say she is perfection. The connection I made with mythology is the story of Narcissus, the one man who fell in love with his own reflection.
The next contest is similar to the first one. It could be compared to today, like Miss. University or Miss. America, women being paraded and the prettiest, as well as intelligent and talented but mainly the most beautiful girl is chosen to recieve the crown. Women are shown to be property to men, the man who has the prettiest girl gets the bird.
When Queen Guenevere gives Enide a dress of hers that is brand new it implies that she has been accepted by the court and that she has been deemed worthy. Enide believes herself worthy enough to recieve the dress and even before she believes she deserves to be treated like royalty as she wait for the highest offer of marraige. Erec seems to put her on a pedistal and thinks highly of her. He finds no fault with her and thinks she deserves the best.
After reveiwing the questiong and thinking about the texts I find the story alittle more interesting.
To follow up with the questions though, starting with question one, I did get lost a couple of times in the story, even in the prologue, I had to think about the question you proposed as I didn't quite understand what the proverb meant. For me, the beginning was an introduction to the point of the story, the reason, the lesson behind it and what to look for in the story. The proverb, "one might find onself holding in contempt something that is worth much more than one believes", I was not sure how to take it as I don't know how it related to any of the characters. I can't really answer the question yet until getting a better understanding the first paragraph of the story.
For question two, going into the openning of the story there is a description of King Arthur and the knights, and introduces the plot of the story with the idea to go out hunting the white stag. The knights are described as "brave and combative and fierce" (pg. 37) and there is a mention of the ladies of the court, rich ladies and maidens and daughters of kings. The contest proses problems as the person that kills the stag gets to kiss the most beautiful maiden in the court. The question is who is that maiden. Lord Gwain advises against this contest as he says that the lady that is chosen will have a knight or nobleman that will not stand for it and take up arms saying that his maiden is the most beautiful. This contest has set the women up as prizes which is saying that for their looks women are prizes to be won and not for anything else. Though it may be an honor to be thought the most beautiful maiden in the whole court, it makes women think superficially and be thought of only worthy enough to be thought of only as a pretty face. Men are seen as the protectors from the way Lord Gwain describes them as well as possessive when he says "there is not a one who is not the favorite of some valiant and bold knight, each of whom would want to control, rightly or wrongly, that the one who pleases him is the most beautiful and most noble." The men won't stand for the woman that they favor to be said that they are not the most beautiful.
In characterizing the two characters both are seen to be beautiful people. It says that they were "evenly matched in courtliness, in beauty, and in great nobility" (pg. 56) meaning that they were the perfect couple in the eyes of others. Erec is described on page thirthy-eight, saying that he is the handsomest knight in the court and that he is young and very accomplished in his knighthood. He is recieved great honour in the court. Enide is described on page forty-two to be the most beautiful creature on earth, that Nature put all her attention on her when creating her and marvelled at her. Isolde is nothing compared to her, everything about her, even when she is wearing worn clothes she is still lovely. They are portrayed as the perfect, ideal couple who both have beauty and class. Though they are from different spectrums, him being from noblility and she from a lower class, a peasant, they are still matched in beauty and in charm. Why the author did not out right say that the maiden was Enide, I don't have any idea, I didn't really think about it or consider that there was anything about. The way she is described as a mirror, when one looks into a mirror one sees a perfect replica of themselves and so to compare looking into a mirror at her is like looking at her is to say she is perfection. The connection I made with mythology is the story of Narcissus, the one man who fell in love with his own reflection.
The next contest is similar to the first one. It could be compared to today, like Miss. University or Miss. America, women being paraded and the prettiest, as well as intelligent and talented but mainly the most beautiful girl is chosen to recieve the crown. Women are shown to be property to men, the man who has the prettiest girl gets the bird.
When Queen Guenevere gives Enide a dress of hers that is brand new it implies that she has been accepted by the court and that she has been deemed worthy. Enide believes herself worthy enough to recieve the dress and even before she believes she deserves to be treated like royalty as she wait for the highest offer of marraige. Erec seems to put her on a pedistal and thinks highly of her. He finds no fault with her and thinks she deserves the best.
After reveiwing the questiong and thinking about the texts I find the story alittle more interesting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)