Chretien de Troyes shows in Yvain: The Knight of the Lion that situations can change at any moment, and can causing someone to change their internal and external perspectives. With the character Yvain endures various situations that forces him into self-awareness and clarity. For example, Yvain meets the lion and sees qualities in the lion that he wishes to develop. Another example is when he breaks his promise with his wife Lady Laudine and edges towards insanity. Yvain also has moments of self-realization when fighting Gawain towards the end of the poem.
When Yvain first meets the lion and a venomous snake he chooses to save the lion. He does this because the lion shows qualities Yvain would have to possess in order to become the perfect servant king. A servant king’s qualities include being loyal, compassionate and patience. The lion displays loyalty by always standing by Yvain battle and surrendering himself to Yvain as gratitude for saving him from the snake (3390-3407). The lion shows Yvain respect while they go hunting for food after Yvain defeats the venomous snake by killing them a deer and letting Yvain eat first out …show more content…
He fails to keep his promise by not returning within a year to her and the realm after leaving with Gawain to Britain to take part in tournaments. He doesn’t return because he gets so entangled in winning and being a successful knight that he forgets his vow. Lady Laudine sends two mistresses to look for Yvain to shame him and request her ring to be returned. The ring represented the circle of love between Yvain and Lady Laudine. When Laudine wants her ring back it is like asking for a divorce and Yvain goes mad because of losing Laudine’s love. He ends up in the forest alone, naked, and similar to a beast of the forest. This displays that Yvain’s psychological break that he is unstable and that he not fit to be king. He also needs to earn Lady Laudine’s trust back and to right his