Marriage in a Man’s World

Marie de Frances epic poem Lanval is an revealstanding work of derision that pokes fun at the societal norms of the beginnings time, including government and the institution of marriage. Though she never today states it, de France paints marriage at the court level as a farce, a facade, and an arrangement of convenience kinda than passion, love, or commitment.Marie de France wastes no time in laying the groundwork for the subtext of this poem. Within the first few stanzas, as she paints a picture of the great and noble great power Arthur, she manages to slide in a reference to King Arthur providing his Round Table members with wives as gifts. She mentions these gifts in the same breath as lands, which suggests the King views women as proportion and the institution of marriage as a kind of purchase agreement. The art here is in the spectre with which de France inserts this subversive idea into what seems like a simple description of a mans virtues.The motive reinforces her st atement on marriage specifically the sexist nature of marriage and relationships at the time with the demonstration of the mysterious, wealthy and beautiful maid. The maiden acts as a caricature of a male fantasy, approaching him out of nowhere with the offer of free love and devotion. Only her physical and financial features are praised, and when Lanval agrees to her terms, she immediately allows him to relief with her. Lanval has found himself in the perfect situation sex and wealth from a beautiful woman, and all he has to do is not acknowledge their relationship.It is not long before Lanvals loyalty is put to the stress and de France puts another nail in the coffin of marriage. King Arthurs wife, the Queen, apparently unconcerned with the fact that that she is married, offers herself to Lanval. The author treats this as though a Queen coming on to a knight was common practice, unconstipated expected. When Lanval denies her wish, the Queen is incensed one gets the idea th at she is no stranger to such an arrangement and not use to being turned down. When Lanval professes his love for his fantasy maiden, he does so to disprove the Queens pinch that he is homosexual.As one would expect, King Arthur is extremely angry when he finds out what has happened between Lanval and the Queen, though the version he hears is not the whole truth. Arthur vows to bring the knight to justice in court, which is heavily s counselinged in the Kings favor. However, when he brings the charges against Lanval he fails to mention that Lanval attempted to sleep with his wife. Instead, he focuses on Lanvals statement that his lovers maidens were fairer than the Queen. As it seems logical that King Arthur would be far more mad with the idea of Lanval sleeping with his wife than speaking these words, readers get the idea that perhaps King Arthur does not moot the Queens accusations. Perhaps he knows and ignores the Queens unfaithful ways, and perhaps he is indictable of the sa me behavior.After a series of ridiculous happenings in which the male members of the court are most put into trances by a series of half naked maidens on horseback, Lanvals beautiful maiden comes to his aid. Upon witnessing her beauty, all side with Lanval immediately, King Arthur included. By pardoning this man who has supposedly wronged the Queen, King Arthur gives insight into his priorities. Since the mystery maiden is far more physically attractive and wealthy than the Queen had ever been, there was no way Lanval could have made such an advance on the Queen. And even if he said the things he said, he spoke the truth. In this comical twist by de France, the King is more than willing to put digression his honor and the honor of his wife for an attractive stranger.Marie de France makes her final comment on the male-female, love-marriage tradition with the image of Lanval bouncing onto the back of the maidens horse and riding into the distance. Clearly, de France is turning the t ypical boy-rescues-girl scenario upside down, and perhaps is suggesting that things in her time are out of hand and need some strong women to turn things around.