Lai Of Lanval Analysis

The stories of knights from Arthur’s round table of lore have endured hundreds of years, demonstrating the valor and chivalry of these men. The Lai of Lanval scribed by Marie de France tells such a story, documenting the knight’s honor and faithfulness. The tale also weaves in a sense of reward for loyalty and humbleness, as Lanval is rewarded for his actions by an other worldly source. Lanval of Arthur’s knights is respected in his community but not so by his peers. It is not entirely clear why this is but there is mention that he is of royal blood which could be a factor. There may be a sense of jealousy or perhaps the feeling that he has had a rich upbringing and does not fit in or deserve as much as the other men. Arthur himself does …show more content…
His only requirement to keep her love is to not reveal its existence. The honorable Lanval pledges to keep the secret and lives a much more luxurious life. He does not keep his new found wealth to himself however. The riches bestowed upon him by his love are shared with all. Opinion of him improves amongst his peers and this catches the eye of Arthur’s queen. The loyal Lanval refuses the Queen’s advances and is accused of insulting the Queen and making advances himself toward her. In this act he is caught between two loyalties. He desires to be loyal to his love and not disclose her existence as requested, yet he also must remain loyal to his king and not lay with his wife. Lanval chooses to announce his love to the Queen because he is angry but also to repel her advances. In maintaining loyalty to his king, he betrayed his love. The path Lanval chose was between two loyalties, and the one of greater sacrifice. This action reinforces his character by showing that given a difficult choice, he took that which caused greatest damage to himself, thus offsetting the magnitude of the betrayal via a moral