Erec & Enide (Pages 60-90) Response #2

1. Enide becomes a more central figure within the romance as she becomes the focal point of Erec after the two are wed. From the point at which the two travel to Erec's castle, Erec’s values change. Erec holds Enide above all of his accomplishments and his prestige, throwing away his own morals and beliefs, and even his friends for the woman. Enide's name is revealed to us through the marriage of her and Erec, as the court revealed Enide's name as the name she received through her baptism when she is given to Erec, which is a rather strange way of learning the name. According to the romance "unless a woman is called by her proper name, she is not married," describes the society to not only be objectifying and male-dominant, but also cruel in the fact that women are not called by their birth names until they have reached the point of marriage (pg. 62). To me, this is nonsensical, as most people would have to be called something more-or-less symbolic of a human being. Enide, at one point, states that he has become un-chivalrous in his doings, which is really peculiar if most of what he does in centered around her.

2."Wretch. Unhappy me," are the first words spoken by Enide during the course of the story (pg. 68). Enide draws conclusion from random accusations and rumors that she is the cause of renouncement of Erec's decline in popularity and as necessity for his kingdom. Rather, the decline in Erec's actions, such as tournament and other forms of melees, implicates to his peers that he has become nothing more than a shell of what he once was. Erec does not take much of what he hears into thought, nor does he care. Enide, on the other hand, allows herself to become consumed by the thoughts of what their peers have said. Enide is introspective, and as so, she becomes easily conflicted and lets these thoughts brew into an overwhelming feeling of guilt. Enide immediately takes responsibility for being the cause of Erec's condescension, and in doing so, allows herself to speak for the first time, only to rave about how she is the root of all of their problems. Enide feels as if she's belittled Erec with her presence. "Previously everyone used to say that there was no better or more valiant knight known in all the world; your equal was nowhere to be found," is the claim Enide makes before quickly saying that the current reality is the opposite (pg. 68). Erec finds comfort in Enide's words, taking into account her wisdom and agrees. Erec's speaks from a rather altruistic viewpoint, thinking it foolish to disagree, since much of what he had done since marriage had revolved around Enide, thus forcing him to change his life completely.