Study On Courtly Love In The Medieval Arthurian Literature Of Western Europe

Courtly love is an important product of the intellectual and cultural development in medieval Western Europe.Rooted in the development of the aristocratic society,it achieved remarkable success in Arthurian literature.This dissertation explores courtly love in the context of social and cultural origins,textual development,and societal impact.In the first chapter,the dissertation delves into the aristocratic society and culture of the12 th century,analyzing the causes and essence of courtly love.The 12 th century marks a crucial period of transformation in Western civilization,where the aristocratic class faced numerous challenges.The old systems that once brought stability and prosperity to the aristocratic society became liabilities in the new era.The ruling class had to find new ways to control the knights,who were becoming impoverished after the decrease in warfare.Noblewomen faced oppression in long-standing feudal marriages.The era’s development also brought cultural shocks,with influences from ancient Roman culture represented by Ovid,Arab culture,and the culture of troubadours deeply affecting the aristocratic class.Aristocrats misinterpreted Ovid,believing their pursuit of extramarital love was sanctioned by the ancient master of love.Arabic culture introduced the idea that the East was full of passion and love compared to the Western world’s pain and remorse.Troubadours,influenced by Ovid and Arabic culture,created poems embodying the early forms of courtly love.The collision of aristocratic society’s needs and cultural development led to the discovery of courtly love as one solution on the cultural level.The formation of courtly love was a lengthy process,where creators loyal to aristocratic courts incorporated patrons’ expectations and concerns into texts,shaping a new love model within the emerging aristocratic culture.Courtly love had dual characteristics: in literature,it represented a love of the spirit,while in reality,it functioned as an educational courtly game.In the second chapter,the dissertation interprets various Arthurian literary texts by Chrétien de Troyes,examining courtly love’s role in reshaping the knightly class.Knights were previously synonymous with brutality,but in Chrétien’s works,courtly love led knights to gradually detach from feudal obligations,pursuing nobler goals.Chrétien’s texts had evident moralizing effects,aligning with the needs of aristocratic society.Inspired by Chrétien,aristocratic propagandists and clergy incorporated the depicted etiquette and morals into the real world,attempting to guide the knightly class according to these standards.The third chapter explores the connection between noblewomen and courtly love in 13 thcentury prose Arthurian literature such as "Lancelot-Grail" and "Prose Tristan".The new etiquette emphasized by courtly love significantly elevated the status of noblewomen in the literary world.They could confer knighthood,guide behavior,and interpret concepts in forbidden areas.The increased status of noblewomen in the literary world also contributed to their elevated status in the real world,especially in the cultural field.The discourse of courtly love was imitated by noblewomen and their devotees,further strengthening the bond between the two.In the fourth chapter,the dissertation discusses the relationship between courtly love in literature and aristocratic society through chastity tests in Arthurian literature like "Lai du Cor" and "Lanzelet." chastity tests emphasized the detrimental effects of extramarital love relationships on courtly society,warning aristocrats to adhere to the guidelines set by feudal society and the Christian church.The presence of opponents of courtly love paradoxically demonstrated its profound impact on aristocratic society.Aristocratic propagandists introduced the ideals of loyalty to ladies into the Crusades,and the new etiquette and moral standards established by courtly love attracted a significant following.In the fifth chapter,the dissertation explores the influence of courtly love on literature in late Middle Ages.The trend of courtly love had faded before the Renaissance,but its legacy was inherited by renowned writers of subsequent generations.It profoundly influenced authors in late Middle Ages such as Dante,Petrarch,and Chaucer,who shaped these new ideas into their unique perspectives on love.Dante transformed the adoration of love in courtly love into a divine love between humans and God;Petrarch introduced the setbacks of love into his works,and Chaucer,with a more practical approach,transformed the content of courtly love,highlighting conceptual development and progress.In the conclusion,the dissertation summarizes that courtly love is a product of the integration of aristocratic societal needs and aristocratic culture.It is not only a concept created by the aristocratic society to maintain its rule but also a crucial turning point in the history of human thought and emotional development.Courtly love further heightened the awareness of the importance of personal choice in emotions for the people of Western Europe,revealing the sublime power of love.For future generations,courtly love marked the beginning of new love perspectives and became an indispensable part of the formation process of modern societal views on love.