Lanval is one of the stories to which the rules and nature of courtly love described by Capellanus are applicable. First of all, the author emphasizes that love inevitably leads to suffering and is their source. Capellanus (1960) underlines that who is in love, if inevitably falls into dependence on desire and as a result, is captured by it. This concept resonates with the character of Marie de France’s Lanval. Before he had found himself in love, Lanval was preoccupied with his loneliness and associated frustration (Terry, 1995). Thus, love became for him a way out and salvation from loneliness. However, at the same time, Lanval was enslaved by her as he depended on this feeling to avoid unpleasant emotions. As the relationship with the Lady develops, the character experiences the suffering caused by love, as he feels distraught by the affair, which overshadows all the rest of his worries.
Lanval, as a character, is described as a noble and loyal knight at the court of King Arthur. In particular, Marie de France describes that before meeting his beloved, he served the king extremely well (Terry, 1995). Thus, Lanval as a whole is an example of a person with a good character and developed moral principles. Capellanus in turn states in rule 18 that “good character alone makes any man worthy of love” (Capellanus, 1960, p. 185). Thus, Lanval, by his nature and on the basis of his behavior, deserves to be loved and to have a beloved oven.
Another application of Capellanus’s work to Lanval is the presence of some of the described rules in the story of the knight. For example, rule 12 states that “a true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved” (Capellanus, 1960, p. 185). This rule is demonstrated when Lanval refuses the Queen and remarks that he has no love interest in her (Terry, 1995). Additionally, because of love, Lanval loses his appetite and has difficulty sleeping, which correlates with rule 23 (Capellanus, 1960, p. 185; Terry, 1995). Additionally, all of Lanwal’s thoughts are for his beloved, which corresponds to rule 24. Thus, the character of the story is an example of a true lover who is noble and faithful to his Lady.
References
Capellanus, A. (1960). The art of courtly love. Columbia University Press.498424
Terry, P. (1995). The honeysuckle and the hazel tree: Medieval stories of men and women. University of California Press.