Addicted to Love
In Gottfried Von Strassburg’s retelling of the ancient romance, Tristan, love’s portrayal as a psychological disease is considerable. For Rivalin and Blancheflor, Tristan and Isolde, and also King Mark, the affliction causes them to act in a way that they would normally shun. Love changes the perspective on life of those who become intoxicated by its power; whether it’s shared as a couple or entirely unreciprocated, the lust to attain and secure its presence is consuming.
Love’s torment of Tristan and Isolde is a sweet torment that “noble lovers” endure. Grieves are shared, blessings are doubled, and embraces are electrifying on both the physical and emotional levels. One sided love is a hell like no other. Here,
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For both Rivalin and Blancheflor the danger involved in consummating their love is twofold. Bearing a bastard child would result not only in the cataclysmic loss of societal position, but quite possibly her death. Rivalin, less prudent then his future son, risks the wrath of an angry Mark by out right eloping with his true love. Under the influence of love’s tyrannical reign, both disregard their reservations and good sense; blinded by passion they escape to Parmenie to be legally wed. Like a wounded cowboy in a classic western film who downs whiskey to avoid the pain of a gunshot wound or snake bite, love appears to ease the pain of Rivalin’s wounds after a battle. Although on what is almost his death, the passion for Blancheflor numbs his hurt and allows Tristan to be conceived.
As perfect lovers, Tristan and Isolde’s addiction to Cupid’s opiate is surpassed by none. This is proven by the trials Brangane endures, the disregard for Isolde’s personal acts of treason, and also the blows to Tristan’s honor and loyalty to his uncle. Once Isolde has the epiphany that the killer of her Uncle Morold is bathing in the next room, she is enraged. However, she is unable to extract revenge on Tristan. Gottfried suggests this is due to a feminine instinct; simply, that Isolde was too refined to commit such an uncouth act. This delicate characterization of Isolde would not last long. Upon the accidental ingestion of the love potion,
“The course of true love never did run smooth,” comments Lysander of love’s complications in an exchange with Hermia (Shakespeare I.i.136). Although the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream certainly deals with the difficulty of romance, it is not considered a true love story like Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, as he unfolds the story, intentionally distances the audience from the emotions of the characters so he can caricature the anguish and burdens endured by the lovers. Through his masterful use of figurative language, Shakespeare examines the theme of the capricious and irrational nature of love.
What went wrong here is that instead of Isolde and Mark took this potion, Isolde and Tristan drank it and fall in love. In fact, I take this part of the love potion as a metaphor, because there was already some attraction between them. Like Mr. McDonie says, “There are a lot of possibilities, as it turns out. Is it that moment
Love is such an abstract and intangible thing, yet it is something that everyone longs for. In Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the difficulty of love is explored through the obstacles that characters have to face while pursuing their loved ones. Those characters that are in love in the play were conflicted with troubles; however, the obstacles of love do not seem to stop them from being infatuated with each other. The concept of true love is examined throughout this play. By creating obstacles using authority and a higher power, Shakespeare examines the power of love. Through Hermia and Lysander’s loving words, it is reasonable to conclude that love conquers all if you believe in it.
Tristan finally represents the change of social norms in the twelfth century. One major change of the social norm would be the quest of real love rather than arranged marriages. Isolde and Marke’s marriage was a literal arranged marriage, and as it was shown in the romance, neither one of them were truly happy. With “true” love of Isolde and Marke, they were much happier. While it only affected the nobility and people of upperclass, it encouraged the desire of finding true love, and not just
The story of Tristan and Iseult celebrates the triumph of adultery. When looking vaguely at this romance, readers may think the potion of love that they both drink is the one that makes them to commit adultery. However, this is only a representation of the power of passion and lust Tristan and Iseult have for each other.
Puck’s serial drugging-spree serves to draw the readers’ attention to another important aspect in human behavior: love is intoxicating and can diminish all powers of reasoning. Seemingly sober people can act in the most foolish ways when under the influence of love, which is illustrated when poor Helena chases after Demetrius proclaiming “I am your spaniel, and, Demetrius, /The more you beat me I will fawn on you” (II.i.210-11). Like a drunken woman, Helena’s mind is clouded causing her to behave like a complete moron. A reader will cringe while reading about Helena’s pathetic pursuit of Demetrius, but part of that discomfort will usually stem from an equally pathetic memory of stupidity committed while under the influence of emotion. Another example of judgment gone awry while high on love is Hermia and Lysander’s rash decision to run away together despite the fact they both risk a punishment of death from Theseus if they are caught. They feel strengthened by the mere thought of ‘togetherness’ and are willing to take risks that they would not normally think of taking. Any synthetic chemical is likely make a person feel brave, or even invincible, and the natural endorphins that rush with love are no different in effect. Although Puck has had no
In Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, two star-cross’d lovers of enemy households are no longer entities, and cascade into each others souls, and more specifically, fall deeply in love. They develop an obsessive relationship with their feelings for one another; they have a constant desire to be together, even though their emotions are based on sight alone. The addiction was so enslaving, that their only solution to their family fued was to turn to their one and only lover. Romeo and Juliet’s addictive relationship has lead to their unavoidable departure, because it has caused their secret marriage, failed Mantua escape plan, and suicide.
The romance of Tristan and Iseat tells a tale of everlasting love. The lovers struggle through keeping the secret of their hidden love. Tristan and Iseat have undying and infinite devotion for lovers, which cause them to risk their lives and social status. Although the tale portrays the lovers to have this ideal courtly love, one must question whether this love is true or forced due to the magical potion. The debate begins when the lovers first drink the potion, causing a false idea of love in Tristan and Iseat’s minds. However, as the legend continues the lovers persevere. Even though Iseat marries Tristan’s uncle, the two star-crossed lovers hide their consummated love.
For example, Lysander explains to Hermia that love is difficult, and that we need to be patient for it to be right. "The course of true love never did run smooth," he stated (Ii136). He elaborates on this by saying, "war, death, or sickness did lay siege to it" (Ii146). Lysander understands that love can be interrupted at any moment, and that is part of what makes it difficult. According to him, this problem can make love seem as momentary as a sound, swift as a shadow, short as any dream, brief as the lightning in the coiled night" (Ii145-147). Helena is facing a different problem: imbalance. She loves Demetrius to a great extent. However, Demetrius hates her thoroughly. The thing that is ruining her love, in this case, is another person. Her once loyal lover, Demetrius, immediately turned his back on her when he saw Hermia. And in the story, Helena is described to be as fair and as wealthy as Hermia. Helena, in her lines, relates love to child "because in choice he is so often beguiled" (Ii248). Shakespeare portrays the idea that love can be deceiving when Helena states, "things base and vile, holding no quantity,/love can transpose to form and dignity" (Ii241-242). Clearly, she also knows that love can trick people, and that will never allow it to run smoothly. All in all, love in the play goes wrong in numerous places due to its instability and its ability to deceive
Love can be a person’s greatest gift or curse that will bring them to their demise. It infects their mind, controls their actions and consumes their thoughts with the singular obsession of being around their love. In the love stories, Tristan and Isolde and Lancelot and Guinevere, the characters face problems of the soul, and that bring about monumental repercussions to everyone around them.
This piece depicts Tristan and Isolde drunk the the potion and fell in love. In some versions, they drink it by accident. In some other versions, they drink it on purpose. However, Isolde married to King Mark, so the triangle between Tristan, Isolde and King Mark is an example of courtly love. Throughout all the different versions, Tristan and Isolde was ended with a tragic ending. Looking at their facial expression and their action, they looks like they enjoy the potion and drink it purposely. Also, Isolde was frowning, it made me feel like she is thinking the marriage to King Mark since she fell in love with Tristan. On the other hand, Tristan looks like he wants Isolde so much that he cannot wait when they go back to Cornwall.
Marie explains the symbol that defines the love between Tristan and Isolde. While the symbol is spelled out in the quote, the greater significance, both to "Chevrefoil" and the collection in general, begs consideration. As in many lays, Marie is interested in how private love cannot survive when it enters the public world, and often leads to tragedy. In the well known story of Tristan – which Marie introduces with a reminder of its tragic end – she shares a picture of isolated and private love, hoping we will recall that these moments do not spell an ultimate happiness, but instead will often fade away to tragedy, since the strongest of loves lead to disaster when the world separates the lovers who feel that love.
“Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die” (The Good Morrow) the basis of Tristan and Isolde is known to be a romantic tragedy but as the quote states their love continues on despite their death. Tristan and Isolde regardless of the version of the story always are explained to be in love, a love that consumes them so much they disregard every consequence that can come from there so called love. Tristan and Isolde has become an epic and famous love story told in many versions the origins of this story dates back many years ago but the film discussed was filmed in two thousand and six in which we will compare it to the text of The Romance of Tristan and Iseult. There many differences within the film and the story, that can be due to moderation, the audience they are appealing to, and or just changes needed to corporate to fit the film. Due to the origins of this story dating ages back there is no doubt that the film would differ from the story.
to be chivalrous. If it were not for the love between the two he would not have acted out of
Love is difficult to define, difficult to measure, and difficult to understand. Love is what great writers write about, great singers sing about, and great philosophers ponder. Love is a powerful emotion, for which there is no wrong definition, for it suits each and every person differently. Whether love is between family, friends, or lovers, it is an overwhelming emotion that can be experienced in many different ways.