As I drift and wisp through the light pages of Chretien’s story, I have found this particular tale much more grasping and subduing. I find myself yearning to delve deeper into the minds of each characters, this painting he creates with their interlocking fates as his brush truly clings to your mind and locks you in.
Throughout the story, to me, it appears Yvain receives a plethora of influence from Gawain and often is seen as the second choice after him, to rescue Lunette, to slay the giant, etc. Gawain relays his speech to Yvain to drag him away from his wife and land to pursue knightly games and fame. Through his tongue, he successfully convinces Yvain into requesting a leave of absence from his lovely wife, Laudine.
Yvain now must seek approval from his wife, although it seems both grieve over separating they come to an agreement for the sake of his renown. The agreement brewed from these happenings seems strange and destined to fail from the start. I personally would not like to be in such a restricting and seemingly dangerous contract. I would almost see it as her trying to shadow and place an air of negativity and chance of failure upon the entire marriage; it would leave me downtrodden and convinced darker days were to come.
Further into the text, this accord causes a bit of destruction amongst the two hearts separated and the very mind of Yvain. He obviously does not return on the chosen date, and seemed to have little intentions of returning, possibly out of fear of his lover’s scorn. Laudine sends a message, ridiculing and disrespecting Yvain, which propels him into a bestial madness to the point where he hunts and devours the raw flesh of his game.
In my opinion, Laudine still possesses his heart and this open contempt she emits for his very existence has driven his heartless body into a both primitive and elemental lifestyle. He has lost his humanity; he has left it in the grasp of his lover. The knowledge that this precious instrument so dear to him, left in the protection of his lover, now is looked upon in hatred and woe destroys his sense; it releases every worry and painful thought over his decision to leave her. This overall procedure grinds his spirit into this new archaic creature only influenced by insanity. It’s a sad sight to see one so hindered and fettered by love, left to be a prisoner to madness. As each heartstring is pluck by each insult his vexed mind sinks deeper until it slips and cracks.
A cure eventually rids fair Yvain of the chains that shackled his broken mind. The cure comes from an ointment delivered by a ladies’ servant. The cure rids any sickness stressing his mind. This, I believe, fortifies his mind and his spirit. He no longer seems to seek only glory and honor for himself, he rather seems to be looking forward and seeking what truly matters to him – the heart of the one who clutches his own.
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