The Magic of an Elf

I found it interesting how the mantle was described. Obviously, it is meant to symbolize physical purity, and like in many other medieval romances we've read through this semester, items and people are often described in great detail, sometimes even paragraphs long. This mantle was only described in about a paragraphs length, but that was still enough to get the point across that this was the work of some sort of magic. Firstly, the mantle was crafted by an "elf-woman". Thanks to fiction, we already have an understanding that elf's tend to be mystical, so magic itself isn't too much of a surprise for this. However, the mantle's debut itself brings up another odd point. The young man had given this mystical item as a gift for the king's acceptance to his request; despite not knowing of the maiden he spoke of. There was a clear trust in a man's words at this time; as no good man would lie, especially to a king. The most important part is to note that it is not the mantle itself that is magical, but a charm that the elf woman places into it (p.214) It is because of this charm that our story unfolds and the events that lead towards devastation in the hearts of the lovers and their beloved.

However, one question that can arise is why this was made just for the women of the tale? Just as the men were worried of their beloved, the same could be said for the other side. Had the mantle been made for the men, the story likely could've been similar. As we have read in many of our medieval tales, women aren't the only ones who aren't loyal. We can only wait to see if a sequel in the future has an elf man create one for the others to test.