Yvain Blog #1

1.)  In the prologue of Erec and Enide, Chretien writes that "one might find oneself holding in contempt something that is worth more than one believes."  As it turned out, this prologue eventually paralleled to both the writer himself and Erec.  For Chretien, he believed that his message throughout this romance was far more important than the reader could understand.  Therefore, it was necessary to write this romance because of it's worth.  On the other hand, Erec disregarded Enide's intelligence for the beginning of the romance.  It was not until later that Erec realized that what he was holding in contempt was Enide herself.  In fact, Enide ended p being an important factor to Erec: she warned Erec about the knights, and she was the catalyst for both of his awakenings.  In Yvain, there is no prologue.  This could mean numerous things.  For one, this romance may not be of as much worth to Chretien as Erec and Enide was.  Chretien made it a point to announce that he had a strong message in Erec and Enide, but he does not do this in Yvain.  Also in Erec and Enide, Chretien focuses a lot of the text on gender stereotypes and the stupidity of these knights.  However; Chretien does not do this in Yvain.  In fact, Yvain's marriage appears to be perfect.  Therefore; to Chretien this story has no deeper meaning for him.  The lack of prologue may also say that Yvain does not have anything of worth that is hidden.  Enide's intelligence was hidden to Erec, but she ended up helping Erec far more than he could have expected.  So far, the reader does not see the queen being any help to Yvain to help him develop as a character.  If anything, she acts like the perfect wife like that in which Erec had originally desired.  Thus; this lack of prologue may suggest that there is no deeper meaning throughout the romance for both Yvain and Chretien.  Chretien may be suggesting that the characters are superficial, and that this is yet another stereotypical tale from the medieval ages and nothing more.