The Romance of Tristan part 14-19

The madness of Tristan directly results from being split from Yseut for such an extended period of time. The very thought of her seems to send his mind crawling into a terrible psychosis. This plague on his scarred mind drives him to whisper and speak plainly to the ring she gifted him. As he does so he expects a response and when none arrives it digs him deeper into this “ill-starred” fate. Eventually the insanity rending his soul shatters his restraint and he sets off to confront his beloved. I do not think his reaction results from trickery nor do I think it is far-fetched after all the turmoil the two struggled through together. This wounded heart and insane love fuels his excessive drive to seek his bounty from Yseut. This over the top madness fired by the sting of love today would be perceived as a mental breakdown do to the extensive anguish. The burning touch of pure love steers many a soul to the point where their physical and mental existence becomes tarnished beyond recognition by the one they professed to love most.

The extreme desire and fortitude present in the hearts of the two lovers can clearly not exist in the world they belong to. This evident fact creates foundation for why the death of the two is appropriate. They must pass on because only in death; only in another existence can this impossible love survive. The death of Tristan is a result of his wounds and a loss of hope do to the wickedness of Yseut of the White Hand. Yseut passing results from pure dismay over the death of her truest love. The text present a love bound so tightly that each become reliant on the other; almost as if their souls entwine and drag the other through this harsh passing. It is presented this way to reflect the overall attitude of their relationship throughout the story; two “star-crossed” lovers fettered by one another’s spirits struggling and grasping for life as their affection and isolating love claws against a world exiling them to the fates and eventual death.