One of the key indicators of a romantic tale's effectiveness is whether those who hear it fall completely under the hero's spell as he takes on an idealized, exaggerated status, becoming everything they the listener could desire in a lover. Lancelot, lover of Queen Guinevere and one of the great romantic figures of medieval literature, is thus described as exemplifying the courtly values ​​so vital to the time in which Chrétien de Troyes was writing. It seems likely that Chrétien depicted his character in this way very deliberately, not only to please the woman for whom he was writing the story, Marie de Champagne, but also to captivate a larger, predominantly female audience. One of the most fascinating episodes of the tale, which clearly demonstrates the idealization of Lancelot as a male romantic figure, is when an unnamed girl approaches Lancelot, asking him to sleep with her in exchange for lodgings, and later subjects him to a test. to determine his strength of character. This short episode has both a practical and a broader thematic aspect: practical, in that the episode demonstrates Lancelot's desirability, both physically and as an example of chivalry, and thematic, in that the test to which the girl subjects the knight does not it serves only as proof of his worthiness to her, but as a divine test of honor, determining whether Lancelot is worthy of her quest and, ultimately, whether he is worthy of the great gift of Love bestowed upon him. no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The episode serves, outwardly, as a mechanism through which Chretien can convey to his audience Lancelot's extreme physical appeal, as well as his equally attractive commitment to chivalric values. Chretien makes sure to acknowledge that the girl who approaches Lancelot asking for his company in his bed is "very comely and attractive" and that "many would have thanked her five hundred times for such an offer", indicating not only that Lancelot is the one who would attract such a woman, but also who has the supreme strength of character to refuse such an offer, pleading, "My lady, I thank you sincerely for your kind offer of hospitality; but, if you will not, I would rather not let him sleep with you" (p. 219). Indeed, Lancelot is so desirable that Chrétien implies that the girl "would love him so much that she would not let him go" (p. 219). The episode, therefore, clearly announces Lancelot as an idealized male figure who is so attractive to women that even beautiful ones require his body as a condition of hospitality. The idealization of Lancelot in this episode goes beyond mere physical attractiveness; here, perhaps more than elsewhere, he is portrayed as a stereotypical – almost comical – example of chivalric virtue. He behaves in what he thinks is the most courteous degree possible, determined to keep his promise to the girl in the most chivalrous manner he can imagine. He recognizes that he must keep his promise at all costs, but still manages to maintain his loyalty to his great love, the Queen. Lancelot maintains this balance by first expressing his thanks for the offer of hospitality, but telling the girl that he would "rather" not sleep with her, careful at all times to show her honor and respect (p. 219). When the girl insists that he must sleep with her, "the knight, when he saw that she had no choice, granted her what she desired, though it displeased him to do so. Yet, if she hurt him now, how much more would he have done?" so before going to bed!" (p. 219). Lancelot recognizes the importance of maintaining theword given, but his heart never leaves his queen. When he reluctantly returns home after dinner, he cannot find the girl and goes looking for her, determined to be a man of his word even if he hates to do so. "Wherever it is," he himself said, "I will search for it until I find it" (p. 220). When he finds the girl naked, trapped beneath a potential rapist, the sight "evoked no lust in our knight, nor did he feel the slightest hint of jealousy" (p. 221). Although Lancelot only wishes to go in search of his queen, he is so chivalrous that he condemns himself for the moment of hesitation before going to the girl's aid: "I am very ashamed to even consider holding back: my heart is black with sorrow" . " (p.221). From then on, he keeps his gaze firmly on the goal of saving the one who offered him hospitality and does not allow any lustful thoughts to enter his mind. Ultimately, when the girl invites him to keep finally his promise, Lancelot does so with the utmost loyalty and chivalry possible: In the midst of his sufferings her promise overwhelmed him and urged him to continue... He lay down with great reluctance... He carefully refrained from touching her, walking away and turning his back on her. Nor did he say more than a lay brother would, who is forbidden to speak when he is in bed. Not once did he look towards her or anywhere else but directly in front of him. He could not show her any favor ? Because his heart, focused on another, felt nothing for her; not everyone desires or is happy with what others think is beautiful and right (p. 222). offered accommodation in exchange for a bedmate demonstrates the knight's supreme strength of character, showing him to be extremely desirable not only physically, but as the epitome of courtly virtue. Something vital to take into consideration, especially in this episode, is Chrétien's often ironic attitude towards his characters. Chrétien certainly did not approve of adulterous love, as evidenced by his disgust for Tristan and Isolde, and his attitude towards Lancelot is actually quite negative. It's really quite comical to wallow in Lancelot's anxiety about being forced to sleep with a beautiful lady, but it's still important to keep in mind who Chrétien was composing this tale for. He was commissioned to write the story of Lancelot, regardless of how personally objectionable he might have found it, and was therefore responsible for conveying the story he had promised: the story of a chivalrous and courteous lover who must influence the imaginations and hearts of his children . ladies who listen to her, especially Marie de Champagne. Chrétien's true attitude towards his subject emerges through his ironic interpretation of Lancelot's eternal devotion, and certainly becomes evident when he is ultimately unable to finish the story, but the intent of the episode is nevertheless to convey Lancelot's chivalry and loyalty to his true love. . In this episode he tries - and whether he succeeds is certainly questionable - to portray Lancelot in line with the story he had promised to his protector, but it is perhaps due to his extremely ironic tone towards the character he abandoned (or was asked to abandon) the story. Chrétien's intentions for the story were to provide Marie de Champagne with the tale she requested, and regardless of his personal beliefs, which can clearly be seen in "The Knight of the Chariot", the episode was designed to portray Lancelot in a positive light. The second function that Chrétien intended for this short episode of "The.