Lanval(January 19th, 2021)

word count: 590

For, more than any thing, I love you."

He looks at her; he sees her beauty;

Love pricks him, strikes in him the spark-- Now his heart blazes in the dark.

He answers gently, as is his duty,

"Beauty," he says, "If it please you,

And this great joy should befall

Me, that you grant your love,

I'll be at your beck and call,

To fulfill whatever needs you

Have, wise or foolish--you are above

Me, my only commandant.

All others for you I abandon.

From you I never want to part:

That hope is strongest in my heart."


In this first stanza of Lanval, we can recognize that Lanza is speaking to Marie about his love for her. He is making a promise to Marie that he will do anything she wants and that he will never abandon her. The overlying theme of his love for Marie correlates to how many women desire for a man to give his heart over to them and promise them to do anything they may wish in their life. The mood is full of affection with the hope for a future of love and commitment to Marie as Lanval states towards the end of the stanza that he has a strong sense of hope for the continuation of his love for Marie. For a lot of women, the promise of love and commitment is priceless.


"Lanval, I really do respect you,

I really care, I really love,

And you can have all my love.

Tell me what you want! I expect you Must be happy at what I say.

I'm offering to go all the way."6

"Lady," he said, "Let me go!

I never thought to love you so!


In this stanza from Lanval we see how the mood changes from a promise of love to a denial of ever loving her. Marie states how she is willing to provide Lanval with all of her love and give him anything he wants in return yet she is met with hostility and a denial of love from Lanval. The theme of this stanza revolves around how promises are always broken by men. Many women will give themselves over to men after the promise of love and commitment is given but are then abandoned in the end. From the point of view of Marie, she is heartbroken after promising Lanval anything he desires and being abandoned and having their love denied. Overall, there is a sense of a lack of trust instilled in Marie after she is abandoned by her love.



Won't she speak to her dear lover?

He curses his tongue, the heart he couldn't hide-- It's a wonder he doesn't commit suicide.

All his crying and begging and braying, Self-hatred, self-abuse, humble praying,

All bring no mercy from his dear,

Not even just the chance to see her.

Alas, will he ever find content?


In this stanza from Lanval, we see the point of view of Lanval after Marie has decided to stand her ground and not give in to the apologies and regrets of Lanval after he abandoned her. The mood in this stanza is full of sadness as Lanval feels the regret of losing Marie. Many descriptive words are used to describe the self pity felt by Lanval. In the stanza we see that Marie will not even see Lanval because of her upset feelings with him. The heartbreak felt by Lanval almost feels deserving as many would agree that such a mistake from a man does not guarantee forgiveness. 

Comments

  1. LaneyJanuary 19, 2021 at 9:52 AM

    I really enjoyed reading your interpretations of the different stanzas. I specifically loved the response to the last stanza. Lanval was heartbroken over the unrequited love he had for her and it is hard to read. Despite him exposing their relationship to the queen and then the court, I found myself hoping for a positive ending for both of them. I do not think he was anticipating her to be so head strong and independent and he was almost in denial she could have her own feelings and opinion.

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