The Role Of Fate In Medieval Literature - 2182 Words

THE ROLE OF FATE IN THE DESIRES OF MEN IN MEDIEVAL LITERATURE Two of the most common themes found in many medieval literature are those of desire and fate. Sometimes these themes are explicitly explored by authors to illustrates their understanding or to make a point about them. Other times the authors make implicit, nuanced suggestions through the plot of their tales that allows the readers to discover their own understandings about two and to make connections between them. Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale, as well as Thomas of England’s Le Roman de Tristan and Marie de France’s â€Å"Lanval† do just that. These three pieces of medieval literature present a unique connection between the desires of men and the role of fate. â€Å"Wommen desiren†¦show more content†¦In Le Roman de Tristan and Isolde, Tristan is in love with Isolte, who healed his mortal battle wounds but later became wife to King Mark of Cornwall. Tristan and Isolde engage in a secretive love affair that results in banishment and tragedy. Through the duration of the tale, Tristan is so driven by his love and lust for Isolte that engages in deceiving his king and risking grave punishment. However, one could argue that Tristan is not driven humanly desire but by the magical force of the potion that was accidentally given to him and Isolte by Brangein. It is the potion that had caused them to fall deeply in love with each other and could be driving Tristan’s desire. Although this is a valid assumption, it can be refuted by the fact that towards the end of the tale we are told that the effects of the potion eventually wear off, but we know Tristan continues to have feelings of love and lust for Isolde even after this point is made. The best way to decide what desires drive Tristan to behave as he does is to examine the reasons that led him to certain circumstances. In other words, what workings of fate are also a driving force for his desires? For example, what led to his meeting with Isolde? Early in the tale we learn that Tristan becomes a vassal of King Mark; â€Å"But my body I give up to King Mark. IShow MoreRelatedComparing and Contrasting Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Renaissance Perio1410 Words   |  6 PagescenterbAnalysis of Early Civilizations Through Literature/b/centerbrbrA culture that evolves and changes through time is a healthy culture indeed. From the early pagan warriors to the artisans of the Renaissance, the European world dramatically reformed. The literature of each era indicates the profound cultural innovations. The Anglo-Saxons arguably most important literary piece, Beowulf, is a story of a brave warrior who fights Grendel. 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In the case of Medieval Mystic Christina of Mirabilis, Christina also makes the hasty decision to continue living on Earth hoping to appease God even though her decision ultimately leads Christina to push her body to terrifying limits. In Elizabeth Alvilda Petroff’s anthology titled Medieval Women’s Visionary Literature, Thomas de Cantimprà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s The Life of Christina of St. Trond, Called Christina Mirabilis depicts Christina’s