Erec and Enide Blog #1

4.  What is at stake for both, Yder and Erec, is their pride.  When the reader first meets Yder in the forest, the reader is given a sense that he is extremely egotistical.  He does not dare to speak to anyone himself (thus, he has his dwarf do this).  In addition to, the text implies that Yder believes that he can never be beat by any other knight in the world.  On the other hand, pride is Erec's vice as well.  His main intent throughout the text has been to avenge himself from the shame of being hit by Yder's dwarf.  Therefore, for both of these men, this contest is crucial for them to maintain their pride and their ego.  This contest implies much about gender and masculinity.  As Yder and Erec fight in the field, the text describes both of their women as crying, and praying to the Gods for mercy.  This implies that women during this time were considered to be very fragile and sensitive.  They were also expected to be extremely religious and remain loyal to their lovers.  Masculinity plays a big factor in this scene.  The entire fight emphasizes that these men feel like they have to protect their pride.  Therefore, they must defeat their enemy in order to keep his manhood. 

5. When Queen Guenevere dresses up Enide, this implies that Enide is finally becoming a woman.  They dress her up in the finest robes which transitions her into becoming a queen.  Therefore, she finally comes into her own, and her new life is finally occurring.  The dress itself can represent many things.  For one, it shows how superficial the noblemen are.  It’s not until after she’s wearing a fine dress that they describe her as becoming even more beautiful.  Therefore, insinuating that they only care about beauty.  The dress can also represent Enide’s life.  Her old dress was once tattered which represented how she was living a poor, measly life. Now she has a new dress which is represents her new life and all her parents’ hopes and dreams for her to have a better life.  Erec only sees Enide purely for her beauty and nothing else.  On numerous occasions, Erec has been informed that Enide’s intellect is far superior to her beauty.  Yet, Erec hardly acknowledges this and will only rave about her beauty.  Therefore, Erec only sees Enide as an item rather than a person.