The Romance of Tristan and Isolt
Translated by Norman B. Spector
Here is another selection from my current mythology class. I breezed through this work in about an hour and fifteen minutes, and it was not at all what I expected. Knowing of Sir Tristan from my previous experiences with King Arthur, I expected some grand tale of his exploits as knight of the Round Table, some high-minded show of morality and true love. I'm amazed at the amount of frankly un-chivalrous acts that taint the image of the pure and noble knight.
These people sure knew about deception. Deception is present at every point in the story, which adds complication to an otherwise simple plot. The story is basically the tale of two well-bred people forced to love each other ceaselessly. Unfortunately, their circumstances force them to do many devious acts to remain together, including lying to people who would have otherwise helped them. The story, though, can't decide whether it is about inevitability (Tristan and Isolt must love each other) or about choices (they could have chosen a different, less painful route).
I guess that the overarching theme of the work, should I strain to find one in the somewhat drawling and always confusing narrative, is that true love eventually trumps all. Tristan and Isolt, true to form, end up together in death as they are never able to be in life due to a complex series of familial and marital obligations. The question that must be raised is whether love is worth lying (and ultimately dying) for. The story leaves it up to the reader to decide, passing no judgements on its characters but merely reciting the ill-fated lives of two star-crossed lovers who predate Romeo and Juliet. At least they're still human.
Grade: B
Translated by Norman B. Spector
Here is another selection from my current mythology class. I breezed through this work in about an hour and fifteen minutes, and it was not at all what I expected. Knowing of Sir Tristan from my previous experiences with King Arthur, I expected some grand tale of his exploits as knight of the Round Table, some high-minded show of morality and true love. I'm amazed at the amount of frankly un-chivalrous acts that taint the image of the pure and noble knight.
These people sure knew about deception. Deception is present at every point in the story, which adds complication to an otherwise simple plot. The story is basically the tale of two well-bred people forced to love each other ceaselessly. Unfortunately, their circumstances force them to do many devious acts to remain together, including lying to people who would have otherwise helped them. The story, though, can't decide whether it is about inevitability (Tristan and Isolt must love each other) or about choices (they could have chosen a different, less painful route).
I guess that the overarching theme of the work, should I strain to find one in the somewhat drawling and always confusing narrative, is that true love eventually trumps all. Tristan and Isolt, true to form, end up together in death as they are never able to be in life due to a complex series of familial and marital obligations. The question that must be raised is whether love is worth lying (and ultimately dying) for. The story leaves it up to the reader to decide, passing no judgements on its characters but merely reciting the ill-fated lives of two star-crossed lovers who predate Romeo and Juliet. At least they're still human.
Grade: B
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