Answer to Question #260921 in History for helo lthere

Question

In "ginger man and "yonec", Marie seems to take the side of the woman. There are at least two stories, however, where this is not the case. In both "Bisclavet" and "Equitan" the punishment of the wife and subsequent rehabilitation of the husband is the focus. What are the differences in relationships in these four stories? What does the discrepancy suggest about Marie's attitude towards Love?

Answer 1

Guigemar and Yonec are stories that are based on love between a king’s wife, and a knight. Both of these are stories that are based on love that is true and cannot be turned down. The women in these stories are being held captive by their old, jealous kings who wish to keep them for themselves. Equitan is a story that is based on a man who does love his wife, and catches her sleeping with a king behind his back. He loved his wife and wanted nothing else for the years that they were together. Bisclavet is a cursed man who is a werewolf, and his wife goes behind his back trying to escape and find love elsewhere. This discrepancy between all the different stories shows us that Marie’s attitude towards love is hesitant on both ends of the love. She shows us a hatred towards the kings, and also towards the unfaithful wives as well.