The Lais of Marie de France explores love relationships through a series of stories which test the behavior of those caught up in the pursuit of love and lust. Marie de France uses language as a tool, in which using it out of truth and honor is just as easy as using it for lies and deceit. And example of this is the story entitled Bisclavret, in which a “good, handsome and noble knight” (68) is betrayed by his own adoring and caring wife. Paying close attention to the second and third passages (lines 15-56), the way attitude towards the use of language becomes evident.
In connection to the overall theme of Bisclavret, this passage exemplifies the relationship between man and wife as well as the role of love. More importantly how it is valued by men versus how it is valued by women. The noble lord believes he has found his perfect wife. She is a suitable woman who is described as “worthy and attractive” (68), yet this proves to be deceiving for the good knight. Women are categorized into two parties, those who are good looking and those who are mean. However, the role of his wife seems to fall under both as she is beautiful to him but proves that she can use her beauty to deceive and gain what she wants. “…I have such a fear of losing you that I shall surely die shortly from this unless I soon get help” (68). In connection to the overall theme of the story, she is foreshadowing her behavior later in the story, when she takes on another lover. The language Marie de France chooses to use for the wife is also interesting in the sense that she intertwines words that imply doubt with words that signify passion. By placing “shall” before “die” it resonates as implying that she could die from her fear but it is not something she is guaranteeing. Also, the placement of “shortly” after “die” sounds as if she is implying that her grief from this will only last briefly, as she will soon find another lover.
Marie de France also does something interesting in how she chooses the language for the wife when she begins to ask her husband what becomes of him that he is gone for days at a time. “Please tell me where you go, what becomes of you and where you stay. I think you must have a lover, and if this is so you are doing wrong” (68). As opposed to just accusing him of being with another lover, she also asks where he goes and where he stays. What is interesting about how this line is set up is that the wife is asking these questions that seem to be excessive and unnecessary while at the same time accusing him of being with another woman, so that he will sympathize with her. Marie de France is exploring the love relationship that exists between a man and wife and also what happens when one person begins to doubt that relationship. Rather than leave her husband, which would be regarded as unacceptable for a woman, she begins to place the doubt on her husband. Again, Marie de France is foreshadowing what will come next in the story, when the wife tricks her husband and finds another lover.
At the end of the passage the husband is attempting to redeem himself for his odd behavior, and to try and erase the wife’s superstitions. “If I tell you this, great harm will come to me, for as a result I shall lose your love and destroy myself” (68-69). Marie de France uses “shall” again as she did before, which implies the attitude of not being certain or making something an option. Almost as if he is saying that losing her love is something he will decide upon, as if he has that power.
The story Bisclavret as a whole is a portrayal of a love relationship, however as opposed to her other stories this one does not end positively. The use of language as truth and language as deceit proves how easy it is to use both and how hard it is to determine one from the other. The wife learns this tool and thus begins to trick her husband to begin a new relationship. Marie de France chooses her words wisely as well as the placement of the words which can changes their meaning in certain lines.
