9/29 Marie de France #5A

Lanval and Joseph
The story of Lanval is very similar to the story of Joseph and his encounter with Potipher's wife, yet also different in a very important way. Like Joseph, Lanval was in a position of honor: Joseph was in charge of all of Potipher's household and Lanval was knight of the king's court. Both Joseph and Lanval were well liked by almost everyone. Both of the character's were approached by their masters' wives,the Queen and Potipher's wife, and asked to have sexy times. Both refused and so the wives framed them. Joseph is sent to jail for years and years without trial, Lanval is put on trial. The real point of contrast between the two stories is the reason behind each man's refusal. Lanval refused the Queen, not because it would be a particularly evil act, but because he already had a lover who surpassed the queen in every way. The fact that she was the wife of the King is only briefly mentioned. Joseph, on the other hand, refuses the queen because she is married to that man he serves. He would not only be sinning against his master, but also against God in doing that "wicked thing." This shows how the Middle Age culture, at least in literature, how moral issues, such as being disloyal to ones spouse was not a real moral dilemma.


Salvation
I do not believe that there is great significance in Lanval's salvation by a woman. I believe the fact that she was a woman, in fact, was irrelevant to his salvation. When Lanval's lover appeared, her signficance did not lie in her gender, but in her mystical nature and in her beauty, both of which confirmed that Lanval was truthful. It is understandable that the entire kingdom was dazzled with the maiden when she appeared, she was a magical, beautiful faerie woman. It is important to remember that Lanval was not only saved from punishment by the appearence of (magical) woman, but that he was also put in danger because of a woman. While Lanval did also get his wealth from a woman, it is again important to remember that she was mythical. If the genders of the characters were switched, I do not think that it would have made a big difference to the importance of their love and each character's roles. In short, I do not think that this work was a feminist piece at all. But it is a medival work of literature that holds the emphasis of love and magic, not feminimity.