The deeds of women play a large role in this story’s development through characters like Lunete, the two feuding sisters, and more. What does this tale reveal about the roles women had to play in this particular historical context, and what powers they had over men and other affairs?
King Arthur & His World
ENGL 361 | Spring 2019 | Dr. Myra Seaman
I think an argument can be made that the two feuding sisters can be viewed through a lens as being weak and strong. The younger sister travels on her own to find the knight with the lion, similar to Yvain’s own journey to behead the knight of the spring. She begins her own quest and travels quite far. She voyages to where Yvain slayed the giant and where Yvain saved Lunete from execution. Gawain’s brother-in-law does not offer to help find Yvain but Lunete, another woman, goes with the younger sister to find Yvain. Lunette exclaims “My lord, long have I sought you.” upon seeing Yvain. Similar to long knight’s quests, women succeeded at their own quest.
An argument can be made that women were viewed as weak during this period because despite proven strength, men must duel in order to settle the sisters’ land disputes. The older sister is viewed as unfair and unjust, while the younger sister is fair but both are not equal to men. People go to court today to settle land disputes but men do not have to intervene in women’s cases. The younger sister ultimately would have lost her inheritance if she did not find the knight with the lion even though King Arthur always believed she was in the right.
I can’t remember where we read it, but it said that the women of the court were witty and they motivated the men to do valiant things because of their chastity and beauty. The effects of female influence on male behavior goes in line with this notion. Women like the feuding sisters and Laudette spur Yvain to do heroic things. Even Lunette when is about to be killed for supposed treachery. Yvain interrupts and says, “But I advise you to release the damsel, whom you have wrongly accused…I shall defend her if I can for in her righteousness I find my strength.” (350). This shows the values of a woman’s role in this time. She was meant to be righteous, beautiful on the inside as well as outside.
The women in Arthurian romances are actually quite active characters. It is Laudine who provides the ipetus for this story. And the quarrel of the sisters creates the challenges that Yvain must overcome. This is also true in the Knight of the Cart, where the actions of many different women shape the story, both to help Lancelot and hinder him. Women are active, albiet often unamed, characters of these romances.
However, we cannot go so far as to say that they play an equal role with the male characters. The women of these tales never solve problems, or provide solutions. They are only present in relation to the male element of the tale.
A the end here I think you are underestimate Lunete, Jonathan–recall our discussion on Tuesday about how she cleverly makes the case for why Laudine would be wise to accept Yvain as her husband? I’d call that problem-solving and offering solutions (she even tells Laudine how to convince her mourning people that it’s the right thing to do).