The Many Faces of Love In Arth Essay Example

for Igerna and his belief that satisfying his desire for her is crucial for his well-being. This suggests that Uther equates love and desire. His intense love is portrayed as a powerful sexual drive that he feels compelled to fulfill. The text does not provide any insight into Igerna's other qualities, focusing solely on her surpassing beauty compared to other women in Britain. This portrayal of Igerna is narrower compared to how Hartmann von Aue and Wolfram von Eschenbach describe their female characters.Uther summons Merlin to help him sleep with Igerna, as that is his main goal. On page 62, it is explicitly stated that Uther spends the night with Igerna and satisfies his longing for lovemaking. Uther's primary focus is on sex and not on emotional connection. The author mentions that Merlin is amazed by Uther's great love, emphasizing that love equals sexual desire in The History of the Kings of Britain. Merlin recognizes the anguish caused by Uther's unfulfilled instincts and refers to it as love due to physical attraction. In Wace's Roman de Brut, the same situation occurs with Uther and Igerna. Wace explains that Uther's love for Igerna surpasses everything else and constantly drives him forward. This love that urges Uther forward is purely sexual desire, as Wace does not mention any reason for Uther's love other than Igerna's physical appeal. Similar to The History of the Kings of Britain, there is no mention of any of Igerna's qualities aside from her beauty, with Wace describing her as the most beautiful woman in the entire kingdom.In both Roman de Brut and The History of the Kings of Britain, the concept of

love is closely associated with sex. However, there is a key difference between the two works. Geoffrey, the author of The History of the Kings of Britain, argues that love can improve a person's character, particularly that of a knight. This idea of courtly love is significant because it reappears more prominently in Hartmann von Aue's stories. It should be noted, however, that Geoffrey provides no evidence to suggest that his understanding of love encompasses anything beyond sexual relations. When he mentions how women only love men who have proven themselves in combat three times and how this makes the women more chaste and the knights more valiant because of their love for them, he simply means that delaying sexual gratification motivates knights to engage in courageous acts. The women remain chaste by refraining from sexual relations with the men while the men strive to enhance their appeal to the women, hoping to satisfy their sexual desires. Nevertheless, even this form of love still has a somewhat uplifting effect, similar to what Hartmann focuses on in more detail. In Erec, sex remains an integral part of love, but Hartmann refines it by including individual personality traits and emotional devotion.The text discusses the contemplation of both the positive and negative effects of Lady Love, emphasizing the importance of moderation and love in the right amount. In an early scene before Erec and Enite's marriage, they are depicted in a meadow, with Erec reflecting on his beloved while she shyly glances at him. They share loving glances, filled with love, faithfulness, and constancy. The passage focuses on the emotional aspect of love rather than sexual desire. Hartmann

praises the purity of their feelings and highlights qualities like faithfulness and constancy as important aspects of love. This differs from Geoffrey's and Wace's approach, who do not address this aspect of love. Hartmann further exemplifies Erec and Enite's commitment when Enite believes her husband is dead after a battle with giants on page 129 of Erec.This passage introduces the theme of religion and the intervention of a higher power in the context of love. The poet expresses the belief that all of God's creations are flawless, but questions why he allowed her to live after taking away the one person she loved. However, if it is not God's will to reunite them, she reminds Him that the world recognizes the unity between a husband and wife. The poet emphasizes that love encompasses more than just physical pleasure by depicting a devoted wife who is devastated at the thought of losing her faithful husband. This displays a deep passion that goes beyond casual love or sex, as seen in other literary works. Enite's feelings for Erec consume her entirely. Additionally, the poet distinguishes his concept of love from previous authors by intertwining it with a higher being. When Enite pleads to the Lord, she reminds Him of the unity between a man and his wife, introducing a new element to the equation of love: God.Both Geoffrey and Wace do not mention God in relation to the love between two individuals. However, Hartmann establishes a connection, suggesting that true love possesses divine qualities and that God Himself is involved in its establishment and maintenance. Love in proper measure is considered ideal, but an excessive amount can

deter individuals, particularly knights, from fulfilling their duties and bring shame upon them. In Erec, the protagonist's main mistake, for which he must make amends, involves an imbalanced approach to love. Soon after marrying Enite, Erec's behavior is described by Hartmann. Every morning, he remains in bed to make love with his wife until the bells ring for Mass. They then quickly get up together and walk hand in hand to the chapel, spending only the necessary time to sing the Mass. This becomes the extent of Erec's efforts. Due to his profound love for his wife, Erec becomes complacent. He neglects the pursuit of honor solely for her sake, eventually becoming so inactive that he loses the respect of others (Hartmann, Erec, 93-94). It is noteworthy to observe how sex contributes to Erec's dishonor; it is a significant factor that leads him to spend excessive time with Enite.Despite Erec's overwhelming desire for Enite and his uncontrollable hormones, it is not solely the pleasures of the flesh that drive him. His love for Enite is deeply rooted in her personal qualities and their mutual feelings for each other, as illustrated in Hartmann's passage on faithfulness and constancy (page 76). Erec's mistake stems from his simple wish to be near the one he cherishes, sometimes resulting in an improper measure of love that causes him to spend too much time with Enite, leading to distraction. Erec's strong feelings for Enite are undeniable and contribute to his desire to be by her side. However, Hartmann also suggests that sex plays a significant role in the concept of love in Erec. Love in improper measure involves an excessive

indulgence in sexual activity, hinting at a potential synonymity between sex and love. This notion is reinforced when Count Oringles forcefully attempts to be intimate with Enite (page 135), highlighting the profound influence of love. Oringles' actions illustrate how he, like Erec, lacks moderation in both love and sexual energy.Both the sexual and emotional aspects of love contribute to Erec's dishonor and constitute love in improper measure. Furthermore, even the deep, abiding feelings that lend a more human and less animalistic quality to Hartmann's concept of love can have detrimental effects. However, Hartmann also demonstrates in Erec that love in proper measure can indeed be an asset. Towards the end of the story, after a series of perilous duels against robbers, giants, and stealthy knights, Erec expresses his reliance on Enite's love and support when he confesses, "I wish to tell you in truth, if I possessed not the slightest shred of courage save that bit which I derive from you, then I could never go wrong. Whenever my thoughts turn to you, my hand is blessed with victory, for your love is the fount of my strength, so that nothing can trouble me the whole day long" (Hartmann, Erec, 166). This level of appreciation signifies a sincere dedication on Erec's part to the woman he loves. Furthermore, when Erec thinks about Enite, he thinks about her faithfulness and constancy as well as her captivating beauty. Enite's love and concern serve as a source of strength for Erec during times of dire struggle. This type of commitment to another person can have highly beneficial effects.Erec restores his honor and gains favor with God through gallant

exploits and practicing love in moderation. According to Hartmann, Erec's newfound moderation in love leads to God granting him and his wife everlasting life. This reward is the ultimate outcome for a life lived honorably, which includes love in proper measure. Love plays a crucial role in Erec's salvation, as his excessive indulgence in love and subsequent adoption of moderation enables him to find favor with God. The poem highlights the significant impact of love, which has the power to either save or damn. In comparison to other works such as The History of the Kings of Britain or Roman de Brut, where love is primarily seen as a sexual concept, Erec portrays a more complex understanding of love as both beneficial and destructive. Conversely, Hartmann's Iwein tends to emphasize the negative aspects of love.The author compares the portrayal of love in this romance to that in Erec, associating it more closely with baseness and vulgarity in Iwein. This alignment with sex and commonality reinforces the author's general dislike for the superficiality he sees in the knightly society. At the beginning of the story, Hartmann depicts Lady Love's control over Iwein in a negative manner, stating that she has always desired common things and sought out insignificant places, which is regrettable. Despite her allure, she has often been subjected to shame. These words are strong coming from someone who praises true love in his other Arthurian romance, emphasizing faithfulness and constancy. Hartmann suggests that love has consistently had this negative impact, contrasting with his portrayal in Erec where love can also uplift individuals. It seems that the author's perspective may have evolved since writing Erec.The

author presents an image of love that captures and subdues, implying that it is something one must resist and combat. This is most likely referring to sex, which is subtly addressed throughout the story. This suggests that sex is inseparably intertwined with the concept of love. For instance, after marrying Lunete, Iwein embarks on a year's worth of adventures with Gawein. He completely forgets about Lunete's deadline until he feels a sexual impulse. He begins to feel love's desire, realizing that he has neglected his wife's request and command. Overwhelmed with painful devotion and remorse, he becomes oblivious to his surroundings. Only when he feels desires of love does Iwein recall his promise to his wife. Loves' desire clearly refers to a desire for sex. Iwein goes an entire year without thinking about his marital commitment until his sex drive reminds him of it. This work reveals the type of common and base nature that Hartmann mourns.He disapproves of behavior that goes against the idea of true love in proper measure, as established in Erec. However, there is still a glimpse of devotion and fidelity consistent with Hartmann's concept of true love in the recent passage. While Iwein's desire for sexual activity reminds him of his wife, he is overcome with painful devotion and remorse when he realizes his shortcomings. In this painful devotion, Iwein demonstrates genuine dedication to Lunete. This kind of devotion represents an ideal in love. Hartmann suggests that it should be present at all times, not just when one desires sexual activity. He acknowledges that love has regressed in many cases, but he does not change his perception of what true

love should encompass. Instead, he expresses frustration in Iwein that Lady Love doesn't meet his standards in practice. Regardless of Hartmann's reasons for focusing on different aspects of love in his two Arthurian romances, it is clear that he delves much deeper into the concept than Geoffrey or Wace. Hartmann explores both the positive and negative qualities of love, adding complexity to the concept. While Geoffrey briefly mentions that love can elevate someone, he doesn't develop the concept further. On the other hand, Wolfram von Eschenbach takes Hartmann's idea of love to even greater depths in the epic poem, Parzival.Wolfram, like Hartmann, believes that true love involves fidelity and faithfulness, but he goes further to argue that the only genuine love is divine love: the love and service of God. While there are similarities between Hartmann's portrayal of love and Wolfram's, Wolfram also praises fidelity and condemns how love can blind and shame human beings. This sentiment is echoed in one of the narrator's interjections in Parzival, which aligns with Hartmann's earlier remarks - if true fidelity resides within one's heart, they will never be free from love and will experience both joy and sorrow. According to Wolfram, benign love is synonymous with true fidelity. The idea of faithfulness and constancy is prominent in both Erec and Parzival. In Parzival, love among human beings involves various complex emotions and feelings that accompany faithfulness, similar to Hartmann's work. Although sex does have a place in Parzival, as evidenced by Parzival having children, it does not hold the same significance in Wolfram's concept of love as it does in the works of other authors. Additionally, Wolfram presents

love as a pristine and honorable entity.A portion of the dialog between wise Gurnemanz and young Parzival is about noble love. Gurnemanz teaches Parzival that cunning may succeed temporarily, but noble love surpasses it. Fights can occur in various places, but noble love offers remedies for deceit. Man and woman are inseparable, like the sun and the day, as they originate from the same seed. This concept is similar to Hartmann's depiction of true love between Erec and Enite in a meadow where there is no room for hatred or jealousy. According to Gurnemanz, love possesses the power to counteract deceit, existing both inside and outside of individuals. Love is also portrayed as a source of courage in Erec. Both Hartmann and Wolfram present love as a powerful force that takes on a life of its own. Additionally, Wolfram's passage emphasizes the idea that man and wife are unified as one body, a notion that is vividly portrayed by Hartmann through Enite's desperate plea to God for death when she believes Erec has died.Despite the positive qualities attributed to love, Wolfram also emphasizes its destructive power and its ability to lead people astray from a righteous path. In Parzival, the narrator condemns the hold that love has on humans, particularly focusing on Parzival's obsession with restoring his honor and proving his love and worthiness to his wife. The narrator mourns the ways in which love can drive a person to their downfall, causing lords to wrong their vassals and friends to betray each other. The narrator criticizes love for cultivating disloyal relationships that ultimately lead to torment. Mistress Love is seen as a culprit who

brings physical cravings that torment the soul. The power of love is described as aging the young and being a hindrance to reason, overpowering any form of opposition.The passage compares the attitudes toward love in Wolfram's book "Parzival" and Hartmann's "Iwein". In "Parzival", Wolfram associates love with deceit and suffering, describing it as an onslaught that people must fight against. Love leads to immoral actions and unfair treatment of others, and Wolfram views it as shameful because it intensifies physical desire. Despite this condemnation, Wolfram does not disapprove of sexual activity itself, but rather the foolish behavior that often accompanies it. In "Parzival", the protagonist seeks earthly love, which is intertwined with sex, but ultimately discovers a divine love that is beyond earthly definitions. This divine love is free from the depravity that causes irrational behavior and harm to others. Those who repent their sins and strive to love and serve God are bestowed with his flawless and transcendent love.Trevrizent, a former knight who gave up chivalry to atone for his brother's actions, advises young Parzival on the true nature of love. He guides Parzival in recognizing the all-powerful love of God. Trevrizent speaks of God's divine love, explaining that it is the highest love that can release us from Hell and leave the wicked behind. He describes God as a light that shines through all things, and His love is unwavering. Those who experience His love find contentment in it. However, those who do not repent for their sins run away from God's love, while those who seek atonement serve Him in hopes of receiving His noble favor (Wolfram, 238). This reference from Trevrizent

regarding God as the True Lover is significant because it emphasizes that only God loves without selfishness or imperfections found in human love. His love is constant and differs from romantic love for another person. Parzival's main struggle lies in accepting God and understanding that through Him, he can experience a love that surpasses any woman's. The literature also portrays human love as fragile, an example being how knights frequently fight gallantly to prove their worthiness to women in these stories.Parzival fights bravely to regain the favor of his wife, Cunneware, and restore his reputation. If women's love were as steadfast as God's, knights would engage in fewer battles, wars would decrease, and they would experience less anxiety and frustration. It is not fair to criticize women in Arthurian literature for being inconsistent and shallow simply because they are female. Imperfect love is not exclusive to women, as seen in Erec's treatment of Enite, which stemmed from his own vanity and shame. Trevrizent teaches Parzival that divine love is the only true love that can alleviate earthly burdens. Just as God's love for humanity is genuine, mankind's love for God is the closest humans can get to perfect love. At the end of the story, Parzival becomes the Grail King and decides to devote his life to a higher purpose instead of pursuing possessions and the love of women. He chooses humility over the vanity that often characterizes knightly pursuits in search of honor and women's admiration (Wolfram, 407).He decides not to fight for the love of women because he now believes that the only love worth fighting for is God's love. The way to

procure God's love is to serve Him through repentance. Parzival repents for his ignorance and sin by championing the cause of the Grail above all else. This form of love is truer than any he can offer to a woman because it serves a greater purpose than any earthly union. This passage from page 407, at the end of the story, is the culmination of Wolfram's message that the concept of love, as it existed during the middle ages and still exists today for many, is incomplete and inadequate. While human love can concern itself with more than selfishness, vanity, and sexual gratification, the only true love is divine love. Wolfram concludes the story on this note to underscore the significance of this idea. Thus, we can trace the development of love as a concept among Arthurian authors from purely sexual to religious and truly divine. Each author's interpretation of love lives on today in each one of us. Sometimes we are driven by pure sexual desire, seeking to fulfill our primal urges. Other times, we experience love and desire companionship and intimacy on a personal level.There are also many individuals in society who feel compelled to live and work for a cause that serves something greater than their own well-being. The presentation of various interpretations in this paper's format may make them seem incompatible, but they don't necessarily have to be as long as we consider the pros and cons of sexual or romantic love. It is crucial for people to understand their sexual instincts and manage them appropriately without denying their existence or their rightful purpose. Love must be exercised in moderation; we

cannot allow our interpersonal relationships to overpower our existence, regardless of how fulfilling they may be. It is also important to acknowledge that there is a higher power to serve, similar to Parzival serving God, whether we refer to it as God, Humanity, Truth, or Justice. By being aware of and maintaining a balance of all these factors, we can effectively navigate our sexual desires, romantic partnerships, and societal responsibilities.