Overcoming Obstacles of Social Conventions in the Medieval...

Eliduc is a typical medieval story of courtly love. The Lai contains the common characteristics of other Marie de France’s Lais; as a worthy and valiant knight is confused about his love life. The knight is caught between the duty he owes his wife and the new love he feels for a foreign princess. Oddly enough, the two female characters, his wife and his secret lover have similar names; Guildeleuc and Guilliadun. This is significant because these two women meet and rather than becoming enemies as would be expected, they work as a team and live together. Over time the title of the Lai has changed to Guildeleuc and Guilliadun because it is based on the two women. Common to other medieval stories, Eliduc is moving and purifying, as it†¦show more content†¦Gender is only viewed as a small part in the social system which actually determines the role that men and women have in society. It is Rubin’s belief that the social and political systems are the first cau se of gender discrimination and the oppression of women in a society. It is these conventions and customs that are ingrained in the minds of children from a very early age. Girls are taught to perceive themselves as less gifted by nature because of their anatomical characteristics. These conventions could make Guilliadun feel as that though she needs to accept her husband’s adulterous choices because that is how women should be treated by their husbands, or so they have been told. In the beginning Eliduc is viewed as the perfect knight as he is dutiful and faithful both to his lord and to his wife, and he is also valiant and courtly. Eliduc is a man like no other in the land. Because Eliduc was so loyal to his king he was granted special privileges â€Å"he could hunt in the forests, there was no forester bold enough to dare try and stop him.† (Line 37-39) This is a great privilege offered to Eliduc because the king only grants certain people to hunt in the forest s, and it is usually men that are hunting for the king himself. Therefore, because the king allows Eliduc to hunt in the forest on his own shows how much the king cherished Eliduc’s work. However, because of slander from jealous men