Introduction
Marie de France was a poet from the Early Middle Ages best known for her lays, or narrative poems written in Old French. These lays address a wide range of subjects, from courtly love to morality to societal conventions. The novels frequently feature romanticized types of love, in which the protagonists’ love is portrayed as flawless, passionate, and without flaws. As such, this paper will examine how Marie de France’s lays portray idealized love rather than genuine love. Marie de France’s works feature wealthy, powerful, and attractive characters who indulge in lavish displays of love, demonstrating idealized versions of love that are impossible in reality.
Discussion
First, the lays of Marie de France are set in a courtly atmosphere, with the protagonists, who are primarily aristocrats, engaging in elaborate and extravagant displays of love and passion. This presentation produces a luxurious and beautiful environment that establishes the setting for idealized love. The characters in Marie de France’s lays are not constrained by the ordinary limits of everyday life but instead are free to follow their love without fear of repercussions or judgment. As a result, individuals frequently participate in imaginative and unrealistic activities and behaviors. For example, a lavish exhibition of love may be observed in Marie de France’s romance “Chevrefoil,” where the knight Yonec proclaims his love for the damsel Aelis. Yonec gifts Aelis with a golden ring, which he describes as a sign of his love. He reveals to her that the ring will always be a memento of his love and will never be taken off her finger (de France, “Chevrefoil”). This extravagant expression of affection is a recurring topic in Marie de France’s lays, demonstrating the idealized nature of the characters’ love.
Furthermore, characters in Marie de France’s lays frequently exhibit characteristics that are not prevalent in real life. They are frequently highly affluent, influential, and charming. These characters are oftentimes ideal in every manner, with no defects or blemishes that may be found in actual humans. This feature contributes to the idealized love environment since the characters are not constrained by the limits that actual people face in their love relationships. A case in point is Marie de France’s poem “Bisclavret,” in which the main character is a wealthy knight. The knight is characterized as “an able man,… [who] was, and acted like, a noble man,” and he is reputed to be extremely wealthy (de France, “Bisclavret” 1). He is also described as “a handsome knight, an able man,” emphasizing his idealized attributes (de France, “Bisclavret” 1). This example exhibits the luxurious and faultless qualities of Marie de France’s characters, as well as the idealized nature of their love.
Finally, Marie de France’s lays’ acts frequently follow a pattern of romanticized love. For example, in order to display their love, the characters frequently make extravagant gestures such as presenting expensive presents or flying long distances. In actual life, these activities are frequently unreasonable and impracticable. However, in Marie de France’s lays, these activities are depicted as the only way to express and experience love. An illustration of such an act is present in Marie de France’s poem “Laustic,” in which the main character, Laustic, travels a long distance to locate his love. The poem is as follows:
“He ordered the best smith to mold
A tiny vessel, all pure gold
(No iron or steel), and good stones,
Precious ones, expensive ones,
And make a good tight-fitting lid.
Inside, the laustic he hid.
Then he sealed up this reliquary
To ever after with him carry” (de France, “Laustic” 5).
This great act exemplifies the idealized quality of love that Marie de France frequently depicts in her poems. Laustic is prepared to invest the time and effort required to create an incredible display of appreciation for the one he loves, demonstrating his dedicated and amorous sentiments for them. For the author, it might have represented the power of love and how it may inspire someone to go to extraordinary lengths to express their devotion. This costly behavior is reminiscent of the exaggerated and idealistic measures used to convey love and devotion in Marie de France’s literature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Marie de France’s lays depict a utopian image of love that is far away from the reality of daily life. The stories’ characters, settings, and actions all seek to present an idealized version of love that is frequently impossible in the actual world. The lays of Marie de France are set in a courtly atmosphere, with people who are frequently affluent, influential, and attractive. These characters indulge in lavish demonstrations of love, such as sending expensive presents or traveling long distances, which are impossible in real life but illustrate the idealized nature of love in Marie de France’s work. Marie de France’s stories provide a fascinating glimpse into a world of pure and beautiful love, devoid of the trials and tribulations of life. This idealized view of love allows readers to fantasize about the ideal relationship, one free of the hardships of everyday life. Although these fables may not depict actual love in its fullness, they do provide insight into a world full of romantic and idealistic ideas.
Works Cited
de France, Marie. “Bisclavret.” University of Florida, translated by Judith P. Shoaf, 1995, Web.
“Chevrefoil.” University of Florida, translated by Judith P. Shoaf, 1994, Web.
“Laustic.” University of Florida, translated by Judith P. Shoaf, 1991, Web.