By: Emma Finney
The knighthood requires a strict livelihood, one that is full of honor. With their honor comes loyalty to whom they serve and loyalty to the vows that they took when they became a knight, such as their Code of Conduct and how to practice courtly love. In the Lais of Marie de France, “Lanval”, the young knight, Sir Lanval’s honor is tested through temptations of a fairy and Queen Guinevere. His loyalty to his King and lady was unbreakable, even when the King’s wife approached him and wanted his love. He remained faithful to those he promised loyalty and duty, “[Lanval had] no desire to love [Queen Genevie]. [Lanval has] long served the king, and [does] not wish to betray [his] faith. Never will [he] wrong [his] lord for [her] or [her] love” (de France 6). Lanval put his trust in his code of honor and chivalry that he swore to uphold, and that honor prevailed through the trials he was given.
Sir Lanval was also forgotten amongst King Arthur’s Knight at the Round Table, “He gave wives and land to all, except to one who had served him. That was Lanval, whom he forgot about. No one called the king’s attention to him” (de France 1). Lanval was neglected by his fellow knights because “many were jealous of Lanval, because he was worthy, generous, handsome, and valiant. Some feigned affection for him, but they would not have been saddened if some misfortune had befallen him” (de France 3). This neglect did not stop Lanval from being a great and giving knight, for he would “gave rich gifts; Lanval pardoned prisoners; Lanval outfitted jongleurs; Lanval performed noble acts. There was neither stranger nor friend to whom Lanval would not give money” (de France 4). Even as a “son of a king and thus of noble lineage, but he was far from his land. He belonged to King Arthur’s household, but he had spent all his wealth, for the king gave him nothing, and Lanval asked him for nothing (de France 3). Lanval’s pledge of loyalty to King Arthur yet could not surpass his love for his lady, “Lanval had great joy and pleasure, for by day or by night he could see his lady frequently, and she was completely at his command (de France 4).
When Lanval was tried for Guinevere’s lies of his advancement towards her, it was because of his love for his lady that he disregarded her. His lady was more beautiful than the Queen and he could not be with her but his true love. It is in this time that his loyalty to the King does not waver. Lanval agrees that he will do whatever King Arthur thinks is just. Yet at the last minute his lady comes to prove that his love was not fake but real as she is real.
Bibliography
Paris, Marie de. “Lanval .” Mythologyteacher.com, http://mythologyteacher.com/documents/Lanval.pdf.