Courtney’s Blog

Practical Criticism #1

 ”Reading Yonec“

A close reading of Marie de France’s Yonec reveals several interesting things.  The text possesses an awareness of the literary genre it exists in, and that awareness enables it to explore the relationship between the world of the original medieval audience and that of the world of the romance.

            The awareness the text possesses is made clear in its references to other courtly romances.  Early in the story, the lady laments her life, during which, among other things, she discusses stories of which she has “heard tell” (87).  Her stories refer to the courtly romances, as they are full of brave knights falling in love with fair ladies.  These romances could easily include works like Marie’s own Guigemar or Milun, works that the court ladies would have been familiar with.  The lady, then, reveals that she has something in common with the audience.  Like the court ladies, she has heard of these romances, and also like the ladies, the possibilities in them intrigue her.

            The excitement the romance offers intrigues the lady so much she wishes it was so.  “If this [the romance] can be and ever was … may almighty God grant my wish!” (87). Here, the text shows an awareness of what these romances mean to the audience of courtly ladies.  The romances let them experience things they could not otherwise.  Entertaining stories often serve as a sort of wish fulfillment, as they allow the audience to vicariously live through a situation that is impossible or impractical in reality.  The clear parallel created between the lady and the court ladies permits the audience to consider the lady their proxy and follow the story beside her.  By blurring the line between reality and fantasy, the text draws the audience deeper into the story.

With the line so blurred, the story moves into the purely fantastic.  Immediately after the lady finishes her lament, Muldumarec enters her tower and declares his undying love, just as a proper romance’s knight would do.  His introduction is characterized by the fantastic elements it uses.  First, he enters the story as a hawk, and then transforms into a man.  The action then begins its move away from the real.  The use of the fantastic continues in Muldumarec’s speech to the lady, as he makes a direct connection between his appearance and her wish, saying, “I could not come to you … unless you had wished for me” (87).  Muldumarec establishes that his very presence is dependent on the lady’s invitation of the fantastic.

It is important that the existence of the lover requires a shift from the real to the fantastic.  As much as the courtly romance serves as a form of entertainment and wish fulfillment, it needs to be clear that the relationships so praised are not realistic.  By changing the setting of Yonec, Marie gives her audience a chance to indulge in the possibilities.  A story set in the mundane world would be bound by societal conventions.  In the real world, knights are not overcome with love for the fair ladies, nor do hey have such romantic and passionate affairs.  In the fantastic, practical concerns are not an issue, and therefore so much more can happen, as it does in Yonec.

That is not to say realistic elements cease to intrude after Muldumarec’s miraculous appearance.  There must be a note of the real to continue to connect with the audience.  People know life is not easy, so there must be some conflict to keep interest.  Therefore, the lovers are discovered and Muldumarec dies.  As much as the medieval audience wants to explore the unconventional, there must be a return to propriety.  However, the fantastic element returns in order to protect the lady, in the form of the magical ring that erases the jealous husband’s memory.  It is appropriate the fantastic protects the lady, as the court ladies in the audience would identify most with her.  The lady serves as their link to the story; without her presence the story would not continue.  Reality can only intrude so much in a story; for a romance needs grander things to happen than the normal consequences of an affair.  The audience wants to be entertained. 

Yonec possesses a unique understanding of itself, as it shows an awareness of its fellow romances.  This awareness helps to draws in its audience, and at the same time explores how the fantasy world of a romance is a reflection of the desires and needs of its audience.  A great deal is accomplished in such a short work.