I find Beroul’s characterization of the main characters to hold a taste of bias and selective glorification. Throughout the story Tristan and Yseut are displayed in a light of pure love, despite its accidental and artificial origins. While Beroul celebrates the star-crossed lovers he shrouds King Mark in a shadow of idiocy and suspicion. This pattern seems common throughout the first six parts.
Tristan and Yseut deceitful actions are glorified through their undeniable yet synthetic love. For example Yseut plan to murder Brangain, despite the servant’s evident loyalty to her queen. This clearly displays less than virtuous qualities that one might ignore do to the sickness of their “eternal” love. Whilst this occurs King Mark is brandished as a fool incapable of making a decision for himself. Throughout the story he constantly relies on his baron’s or the mystic dwarf to determine his decisions and in the end he is usually tricked by a touch of pretty words or swift knowledge from both Tristan and his enemies. The characteristics developed for these “tragic” heroes is an exaltation for deceiving the King while he is portrayed as the fool, befuddled and full of angst.
The portrayal of each main character in the story grasps a different light and stereotype of the medieval times, although clearly with its own shades of gray. Despite the evident bias within the story I find myself curiously still supporting the unfortunate lovers, perhaps it’s do to a human nature to support the “eternal” or destiny driven love. To support the amicable two meant to be; yet cursed with evils and hatred no one wants bestowed upon them, or perhaps Beroul is getting to me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment