Marie De France’s uncanny, whimsically lai “Lanval” satirically challenges and reverses the themes of love through stereotypical gender roles, which are unique and romanticized to traditions of the 12th century. Women for eternity have been rendered as beautiful, physical objects, who where inferior to men, and needed nothing more then a body. Marie De France depicted these same stereotypes in her writing but just in a reverse methodology. She criticizes the stereotypes of women with very opposing qualities while still displaying characters with feminism. This poem combines mercy and humility with a physical attraction which indicates the placement of power in the women characters. Right from the very beginning the author introduces us
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His luck has run out as he faces the king’s court, unable to save himself and “he would never receive help from her” (130,466). But look who rides in to save the day, the real knight-in-shining amour his fair lady on a palfreys (131,473). She isn’t the only female stereotype that had influence over the court though, the two ladies before her are also divine and the men praised and where pleased with “their bodies, their faces, their coloring, each more impressive” (132, 530-531). These features are common when describing a female image simply to a man’s pleasures but Marie De France didn’t describe them this way for men. The maidens use there feminine looks, bodies and their sexy silky clothes to get the attention of the court and distract them from proceeding with Lanval’s persecution. They then personally address the king showing a completely different level of power that would certainly never happen, ordering the “king, to have chambers prepared for our lady...” (132,535) and he follows their orders. The king entertains the rebellious women and allows the fair lady to come save the day. This is an unusual characteristic of female characters, women would hardly stand up to her husband let alone the king. The fair lady arrives on Lanval’s defense directly addresses the court on what the queen did and her dishonor to the king which just further exemplified her power. Submissive women stereotypes, would have never been able to stand up to the kings court never mind any court. Here again you have the gender/hierarchy reversal when the king is trying to get a quick verdict to please the queen. I thought it was a bold statement when Marie De France put the queen on hold for these women who randomly rode in; this puts physical beauty above political ranks. Towards the end is when you can defiantly read the comedy behind Marie
His luck has run out as he faces the king’s court, unable to save himself and “he would never receive help from her” (130,466). But look who rides in to save the day, the real knight-in-shining amour his fair lady on a palfreys (131,473). She isn’t the only female stereotype that had influence over the court though, the two ladies before her are also divine and the men praised and where pleased with “their bodies, their faces, their coloring, each more impressive” (132, 530-531). These features are common when describing a female image simply to a man’s pleasures but Marie De France didn’t describe them this way for men. The maidens use there feminine looks, bodies and their sexy silky clothes to get the attention of the court and distract them from proceeding with Lanval’s persecution. They then personally address the king showing a completely different level of power that would certainly never happen, ordering the “king, to have chambers prepared for our lady...” (132,535) and he follows their orders. The king entertains the rebellious women and allows the fair lady to come save the day. This is an unusual characteristic of female characters, women would hardly stand up to her husband let alone the king. The fair lady arrives on Lanval’s defense directly addresses the court on what the queen did and her dishonor to the king which just further exemplified her power. Submissive women stereotypes, would have never been able to stand up to the kings court never mind any court. Here again you have the gender/hierarchy reversal when the king is trying to get a quick verdict to please the queen. I thought it was a bold statement when Marie De France put the queen on hold for these women who randomly rode in; this puts physical beauty above political ranks. Towards the end is when you can defiantly read the comedy behind Marie