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Lancelot
Medieval Library
Give Unto Thee...A Satire of Love

The tale of Lancelot, first told by Chretien De Troyes, depicts an era of medieval romance. This era, defined by its dominant focus upon love and honor rather than war (as opposed to epic novels), invokes a sense of virtue and romantic fantasy for those who explore this genre of literature. In the "Knight of the Cart", however, love is purposely satirized through the foolish undertakings and unorthodox decisions of the love-struck character Lancelot, but still retains the courtly focus of romance indicative of the literary period. Though Lancelot is revered and commended for his noble deeds and pugnacious demeanor, his actions are sinful, unreasonable, and foolish, denoting De Troyes' attempt to mock the effects of perpetual love on those who pursue it, without breaching the romantic appearance of the prose. Lancelot, a knight in a period of moral knightly expectations, must find a balance between his strict edicts and the consequences of the love that dominates his existence, else his heart be torn apart.

One of the noted aspects worthy of pity according to De Troyes is the foolish effect that love has on the character Lancelot. His love for the queen is so true that upon discovering a few strands of hair that are noticeably Guenevere's, Lancelot "began to adore the hair, touching it a hundred thousand times to his eye… and his cheeks" (225). His adoration is entirely genuine, yet induces him to seemingly idiotic actions. This superfluous display of adoration is also apparent in a decision of Lancelot's in his first melee with his nemesis, the belligerent Meleagant. Lancelot, after catching a glimpse of his queen, "began to defend himself from behind his back so he would not have to turn or divert his face from her" (252). This action is obviously foolish, greatly increasing his chance of death, and could be avoided with reason.

These foolish actions implicitly indicate an underlying theme of the tale, in which rationality is not and cannot be associated with love. De Troyes affirms this theme explicitly with Lancelot's sudden ambivalence towards riding in the cart, an action that that is unreasonable for a knight of such honor. "Reason, who dared tell him this, spoke from the lips, not from the heart; but Love, who held sway within his heart, urged and commanded him to climb into the cart at once" (212). This passage encompasses the ensuing battle within Lancelot between love and reason, a battle clearly dominated by love. Although his honor was at stake, reason could not sway his love for Guenevere. With but a slight hesitation, Lancelot abdicated his knightly characteristics of honor and pride to those of disgrace and reproach, all for love. This theme is further supported by Lancelot's irrational act of wanting to "throw himself from the window and shatter his body on the ground below," all because the queen fell out of view from him (214). Love breeds irrationality, and Lancelot exemplifies this theme.

Lancelot, dominated by his love for Guenevere, is forced into decisions that normally would be inconceivable to a virtuous knight. Normally, Lancelot would not think of an adulterous relationship with his queen. But under the spell of love, his morality is disregarded and his only thoughts are of the queen. The only rationality that he can afford to abide by is to be able to keep seeing the queen, so he must temporarily hold back his inhibitions, for entirely selfish reasons bound by love. This effect is a literary satire of the rules of courtly romance, in which adultery is allowed as long as those involved are in true love.

Love is a powerful force, and this fact is no more clear than in "The Knight of the Cart". It is so powerful, that it commands Lancelot to acts of irrationality, unreason, and illegality. Although inferred, in a courtly era, men are privy to thoughts of their loved ones before themselves, allowing a chance for the woman to use that man. Therefore, in effect, love can permit a female dominance over men. Men, in this period of literary history, are expected to pursue their love and give unto their lover their soul, in accordance with the rules of courtly romance. Although women are portrayed as vulnerable in the prose, they are the ones who wield the most power, for they can dictate a love-struck man's actions on a whim. De Troyes acknowledges this statement in that he was not compelled, but rather "command(ed)" (207) to begin the writing of a romance by his lady of Champagne. Just as the lady of Champagne can dominate De Troyes' actions, Guenevere has the power to dominate Lancelot. With but a whim, she is able to cause him to fight like a coward by uttering the words "Do your worst" in a tournament of knights (277). Surely she wields a formidable force, whether unknowingly or not.

Lancelot, in his battle between his morals and love, is unable to choose his fate. Love conquers his entire soul, and forces him to irrational and unrighteous actions. Through the use of Lancelot's foolishness and actions, De Troyes is able to portray the undesired effects that courtly love induces in a man through the use of satire.

Troyes, Chretien de. "The Knight of the Cart" in Arthurian Romances. Trans. by William Kibler. London: Penguin, 1991. (207-294).