Courtly Love In Yvain, The Knight Of The Lion

Aaron Fuller, “Yvain, The Knight of the Lion” In the arthurian poem “Yvain, The Knight of the Cart” Chretien de Troyes depicts courtly love as a necessity for success. Multiple characters rely on love to further their goals, and to remain functional in society. Yvain depended on love as motivation on his quest, while Laudine used courtly love to establish a new heir to the fountain. Either way courtly love was necessary for the characters to strengthen their position and establish themselves in society. Laudine utilizes Yvain’s love to improve and strengthen her role as a leader. Laudine serves as the beloved in her relationship with Yvain, employing him as a prisoner of her desires. Lunete claims Laudine “wishes to have you in her control, and she desires such complete possession of your body that even your heart shall not be at large." (Chretien 26) showing her utilization of courtly love to control Yvain. She used her position as the beloved to manipulate Yvain to be the guardian of the spring, ultimately showing courtly love being necessary to further a character’s goal. Her reliance on courtly love not only strengthened her land’s defense but helped establish her political position in her kingdom. …show more content…
Once Yvain learns of Laudine’s displeasure towards him as a lover, Yvain breaks down “And his sorrow grows on him: he feels oppressed by what he hears, and is tormented by what he sees. He would rather be banished alone in some wild land” (Chretien 37). Once deprived of love he became ineffective as a knight, resorting to a beastlike form. Yvain attempted to separate himself from courtship duties as a knight but ended up losing all touch with society. Without the validation of love Yvain loses reasoning becoming inhuman, showing the importance of love to keep a knight level