courtly love
During the Middle Ages, Courtly love was a code which prescribed the conduct between a lady and her lover (Britannica). The relationship of courtly love was very much like the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege. The lover serves his beloved, in the manner a servant would. He owes his devotion and allegiance to her, and she inspires him to perform noble acts of valor (Schwartz). Capellanus writes, in The Art of Courtly Love, “A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved”. The stories of Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes illustrate the conventions of courtly love.
According to Capellanus, “Good character alone makes any man worthy of love”. In Lanval, the fairy lover chooses Lanval because he is “worthy and courtly” (Lawall 1319). Lanval gladly accepts the fairy’s love. He promises to “abandon all others for [her]” (Lawall 1319). Capellanus also says that “a true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved”. Therefore, Lanval loves his fairy lover solely. When the Queen offers her love to Lanval, he rejects her because his heart is devoted to his fairy lover. His beloved is one whom he “prized above all others” (Lawall 1320). Lanval desires no one more than his fairy lover. She provides him with “great joy and pleasure” that he can forego the other pleasures of the world (Lawall 1320). The claim she has on him is like that of a king’s.
A good, chivalric knight should hold ladies in esteem. He should do all in his power to serve and protect ladies. Perceval’s mother instructs him to never “withhold [his] aid” from a lady or a “maiden in distress” (Lawall 1333). She says that “he who does not yield honor to ladies, loses his honor” (Lawall 1333). If Perceval wishes be honored, he should “serve ladies and maidens” (Lawall 1334). Perceval obeys his mother’s words. At his first encounter with a maiden, he greets her and seeks to please her, albeit clumsily. When the maiden at King
According to Capellanus, “Good character alone makes any man worthy of love”. In Lanval, the fairy lover chooses Lanval because he is “worthy and courtly” (Lawall 1319). Lanval gladly accepts the fairy’s love. He promises to “abandon all others for [her]” (Lawall 1319). Capellanus also says that “a true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved”. Therefore, Lanval loves his fairy lover solely. When the Queen offers her love to Lanval, he rejects her because his heart is devoted to his fairy lover. His beloved is one whom he “prized above all others” (Lawall 1320). Lanval desires no one more than his fairy lover. She provides him with “great joy and pleasure” that he can forego the other pleasures of the world (Lawall 1320). The claim she has on him is like that of a king’s.
A good, chivalric knight should hold ladies in esteem. He should do all in his power to serve and protect ladies. Perceval’s mother instructs him to never “withhold [his] aid” from a lady or a “maiden in distress” (Lawall 1333). She says that “he who does not yield honor to ladies, loses his honor” (Lawall 1333). If Perceval wishes be honored, he should “serve ladies and maidens” (Lawall 1334). Perceval obeys his mother’s words. At his first encounter with a maiden, he greets her and seeks to please her, albeit clumsily. When the maiden at King