Testy, testy

            This second half of Erec and Enide seemed like it dealt with themes of testing the quality of character for many of the acting parties in the text. These tests were not limited to the two primary protagonists for whom the text is named, but also extended to tests of faith, chivalry and honor, as well as tests of love and perseverance. Erec is shown to be headstrong and cocky but he is also capable of great acts of kindness and mercy. I found the polar behaviors of the knights in the story to be odd, specifically, the rapidity at which a chance meeting of a fellow knight was escalated to violence, and the equal speed at which the situation resolved itself amicably. I believe these merciful culminations acted as a test of the victor’s capacity for mercy and compassion – perhaps strange qualities to value in trained warriors, but values which are frequently questioned and tested nonetheless.

Enide was effectively tormented through the entirety of the second half of the tale, dealing with a moody Erec, a dead Erec, a not-dead Erec, and a not-dead-not-Erec-husband, all while being attacked at regular intervals. Ultimately, I think Enide had a happy ending, but only through her unwavering commitment and survival of Erec’s trials. Enide’s ability to remain faithful and selfless eventually payed off, though I still can’t help but feel that Enide was always on the receiving end of emotional trauma. In many ways, Enide’s ability to survive any trauma of the mind mirrored Erec’s capacity to survive any damage to his body, and while that’s great for a wandering couple of lovers, I’m not sure it lends itself to a happy marriage down the road.

[commentary refers to Chretien de Troyes' "Erec and Enide" as translated by David Staines,                 Indiana Uni. Press, 2010]