Yvain (Part 3)

1) Yvain believes that his name is tainted with shame. Following his ‘awakening’ in the woods (his symbolic ‘rebirth’), he must build up a new reputation. He is trying to become a new man, and therefore must give himself a new name. This was symbolized in the battle between the lion and the snake, which represents rebirth (because it sheds its skin). Yvain’s choice to fight on the part of the lion represents his choosing of good over evil, nobility over wickedness, honor over shame. Therefore, it is fitting that Yvain’s new name symbolizes the qualities that make up the true knight. His ‘rebirth’ marks a turning point in his life as a knight; he is no longer seeking adventure for adventure’s sake, but going about true knightly duties and helping people. He admits to Laudine (who at the time does not know who he is), that he is “not of great renown” (352). This humility is much of what characterizes Yvian at this point in the text, and is the reason why the title he chooses for himself suggests a dedication to knighthood as opposed to personal glory.

2) The sisters end up unwittingly making two close companions fight each other; this could reflect the way that the sisters are fighting even though they should be companions.

I thought it was strange that an issue about land ownership would be resolved with a battle. I have to wonder if Chretien was suggesting the absurdity of this by making the battle amount to nothing so that the matter could be settled by the king.

3) I thought that the ending was a little disappointing. Laudine only reconciled with Yvain because of the oath that she was tricked into making, not because she really wanted to take him back. This could be what Chretien was alluding to in his speech about Hatred and Love: “Now Hatred is in the saddle, for she spurs and charges and tramples over Love as hard as she can, while Love does not stir” (370). This speech takes place just before the fight between Yvain and Gawain, but could “Hatred” also refer to Laudine, while “Love” refers to Yvain?

Because of Laudine’s distain for him, Yvain dedicated his life to “devoting himself to helping women in need of assistance” (355). It is for this reason that Yvain is finally brought back to Laudine, but the situation is incredibly ironic: every other maiden that Yvain has helped was extremely grateful and wanted to have Yvain as their husband; but Laudine, for whom Yvain was doing all of this, is the only one who accepts him out of obligation as opposed to love. Chretien states at the end of the story that “everything had turned out well for he is loved and cherished by his lady, and she by him” (380), but I have to wonder if this statement is meant to be taken at face value or if the forced reconciliation is meant to remain an unresolved undertone.

4) The fact that Chretien only reveals his name at the end of the story could mirror the way that Yvain had to hide who he really was in order to build up his reputation. Yvain has finally made a name for himself, so the author can now give his name to the romance.

Additional Thoughts: Who or what is the “unfaithful doctor” that Chretien speaks of? It harkened back to the beginning of the tale, when he was talking about how true love has dissipated over the years. “To serve her he would have taken on human flesh, abandoned his divinity, and struck his own body with the dart whose wound never heals unless an unfaithful doctor tends it. It is not right for anyone to be healed unless he encounters unfaithfulness, for he who is healed in any other way does not love truly” (362). Almost every “healer” in the romances that we have read are has been a woman. There were numerous female healers in this romance alone; it would be interesting to know what Chretien meant by his “unfaithful doctor” story and if it relates to this theme of women as healers.