Gender Roles In Marie De France's Lanval

Through years the role of a man was and still is to be the provider, fighter, and the “main man” politically, socially, and culturally. They are expected to hold their woman on the highest pedestal they can put her on, and is the strong and well endowed one in the relationship. While as the woman is and still is perceived as the one who practically moves up the social hierarchy by marriage, and is seen as peculiar if they “wear the pants” in the relationship. In Marie de France’s Lanval, she battles this stereotype through female empowerment by reversing traditional gender roles. In the text Lanval is not perceived as the man in the relationship who holds more power and money than his partner. Lanval “... was far from his heritage… spent all his wealth” while his partner had “much more wealth, power, or knowledge” (28,30,83). This shows the …show more content…
She “came riding … on horseback” and saved Lanval, who proclaimed his love and stated that he hoped to be forgiven even if he had to die (549). Lanval is put in the position of being the emotional one in the relationship and is in a form of danger. The one who saves him is not another man, but the love of his life. She mimics what is seen in fairy tales where the man comes in with a white horse, to fight a dragon, or the king in this case, and saves his princesses. Once the princesses is rescued she over dramatically states her affection towards her prince, which Lanval mimics. Lanval’s traditional gender role has been reversed by showing his lack of power, money and actions compared to those of his lovers, whose are the complete opposite of his. She shows a power that a woman of her time could not imagine having and are normally seen in high ranking men. Whereas Lanval is showing traditional attributes that would be considered feminine if being described to