"Lanval" is essentially the story of an outcast, and displays the theme of loyal love that cannot exist in unison with the gender roles and idealism of the real world. Lanval is far away from his homeland poor and does not have very many friends inside nor outside of the court. In fact, this proves that Lanval is removed from his society. He is not accepted, even though he demonstrates chivalrous values such as loyalty to his king and generosity. Lanval is a well illustration of a man removed from the world. As an outcast, it is no surprise that his happiness and love would also exist apart. Depressed and lonely, Lanval seeks for amusement; however it is nowhere to be found, until it finds him. The story reverses and challenges gender roles, …show more content…
Males were also expected to court the women and provide for them. In this case the power has shifted; the lady is courting the man. “I shall obey your command; for you, I shall abandon everyone. I want never to leave you. That is what I most desire”(abcabfa ###). This quote shows man doing whatever his women wants. Also, with the lady telling Lanval to keep their love a secret is another example of man doing whatever the women says. This is a change in society, especially in the 12th century. At that time women were expected to be dependent and basically useless without a man. However, this lady is not a typical lady of the 12th …show more content…
He denies the love of Queen Guinevere, who is said to be the most gorgeous girl of all the land. Lanval is honoring the chivalric code by being loyal to his beloved King. After King Arthur has lapsed on his duty to Lanval, Lanval is praised for keeping his loyalty to him. Loyalty continues to be tested as the lady’s arrival is led by two sets of escorts. “Most of those who saw them praised them for their bodies, their faces, their coloring; each was more impressive than the queen had ever been” (adgjhD164). Every one of the court thinks these ladies are more beautiful than the queen has ever been. The lady was testing Lanval’s loyalty, since all he had to do was confess his love to one of them to save his life. Instead, he denied it and said that he did not recognize them. Then he does recognize his true lover and by his fate he does not care what happens as long as she forgives him (FHFH 166). Here he shows his true devotion by not claiming that the other beautiful ladies are his lover. If he were to claim one, it is most likely he would be found innocent. Since the escorts are indeed superior in beauty to the queen, it would make Lanval’s boasts true. For all of that he would rather die than betray his beloved in this way. Lanval’s loyalty is what might lead his lady to save him. However, loyalty is not rewarded. It’s an evil world where the lies of the queen can commence a