Literature essay

In The Story of the Holy Grail (Perceval), a boy named Perceval grows up detached from civilization because his mother is too afraid of the dangers that lurk outside. This ultimately deprives the boy of social skills that are required to interact appropriately with other people. Perceval’s ignorance leaves him in trouble several times throughout his journey to the king’s court. It is understandable that Perceval’s mother wants to shelter her son; after all, the deaths of her husband and two sons must have been traumatic. However, she suffocates Perceval to the point where he is unable to conduct himself with proper manners. During her appearance in the story Perceval’s mother remains a passive character. She is dependent on the men in her life, like her son, even though they are demanding and ungrateful. Her son disregards much of the advice she gives before he starts his journey; instead Perceval selfishly demands to his mother, “give me something to eat” (385). Their relationship is important for being one of the early clues where Chrétien de Troyes depicts the submissive position women take in many Arthurian legends.

In a more abrupt manner, the author described woman’s subversive nature when Perceval encounters the damsel asleep in her tent. She is characterized in this scene by her vulnerability and dependence on the man in her life, much like Perceval’s mother. However, her man isn’t present and consequently she is unable to protect herself from the naïve knight-to-be. Chrétien de Troyes wrote, “the boy had strong arms and embraced her clumsily because he knew no other way: he stretched her out beneath himself, but she resisted mightily and squirmed away as best she could” (389). Here the woman resists her attacker, but she ultimately succumbs to Perceval’s overwhelming force. The boy blames his violent actions on his mother’s instruction, when in reality his own insolence compels him to attack. The woman is petrified when Perceval approaches her, Chrétien de Troyes details her feelings when he writes, “the maiden trembled in fear of the boy who appeared to be mad at her, and blamed her for her own foolishness for having let him find her alone” (389). Once again Perceval denies responsibility for his actions and he also accuses the innocent woman of inciting the attack. In Perceval, Chrétien de Troyes portrays women as passive individuals who receive most of the blame when situations go array. This account speaks negatively to the position women take in Arthurian legends, but introduces a contrast to the control that Guinevere and various unnamed women possess in Lancelot.

In contrast to Perceval, Chrétien de Troyes bestowed power among the women of Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart. Without women there would simply be no story of Lancelot. From the fierce control Guinevere exercises over people around her to the Lancelot’s reliance on the guidance of women along his arduous journey, the crucial role of women in this story is indisputable. Along his way, Lancelot encounters several women who range in age and motive for helping him. The first unnamed female he meets is just a girl, but she provides vital information Lancelot needs to continue to his destination. Without her character, Lancelot would undoubtedly have become confused and lost in the forest, so the story literally could not progress without her inclusion. Another woman the knight meets along his journey possesses the seductive power that many women share in Arthurian legends. She uses her persuasive personality to coerce Lancelot into sleeping with her. Though they never follow through with this action, the role elegantly dressed lady is suggestive of the manipulative power women express throughout the story. Guinevere is by far the most important figure in the story in because she finds herself in the center of much of the conflict. She, her husband King Arthur, and Lancelot are locked in a complicated love triangle, in which Guinevere holds all true power. When Lancelot tries to participate in the jousting tournament, Guinevere sends a damsel to the knight who proclaims, “Sire, my lady the Queen sends you word by me that you shall do your ‘worst.’” Without hesitation, Lancelot responds, “very willingly” (Chrétien de Troyes 67). This decision could ultimately lead to the knight’s death; however, his devotion to Guinevere is far stronger than it is to himself. The power women hold in Lancelot is perpetuated by man’s desire to please them. Unlike the passive roles women take in Perceval, women in Lancelot serve as integral milestones that facilitate the progression of the story’s narrative.

The women of Lancelot enjoy significantly more authority in their society than do the unfortunate women of Perceval. In the latter, women are secondary characters who depend on men to survive, while the women of Lancelo,t like Guinevere, are constantly the centers of attention. This contrast speaks to the confusing societal norms that are common throughout Arthurian legend. The same author writes the two stories, yet characters from similar backgrounds lead completely opposite lives. The complexities of women’s roles in Arthurian legend reflect the struggles women have faced throughout history; Chrétien was simply one of the early authors who recognized their inferior place in society.

Works Consulted

Chretien de Troyes. "Lancelot." Heroofcamelot.com. N. p., 2018.