Erec and Enide, pages 60 to 90

In this section of the text, it becomes even clearer how Enide is really seen and treated by the people around her- the most important of these being Erec. A main point in our discovery of Enide is her name, which we do not learn until her marriage to Erec. This event reinforces the idea that Enide is property and that no one cares for her true identity until she becomes important enough (which is when she marries Erec). Even after the wedding, she is still Erec’s possession- evidenced by his nearly abusive behavior towards her. Though their relationships begins in bliss, their honeymoon stage ends quickly when Enide reveals that Erec’s love for her – and his subsiding interest in knighthood- has led him to be mocked by the kingdom. Afterwards, Erec takes out his anger on Enide, as if his cruel (and stereotypically dominant and masculine) treatment of her will make up for his peers’ view of him as oversensitive to his wife. Erec no longer allows her to speak without being spoken to first; he “threatened her” (83) after her third attempt to save his life from opposing knights. Despite Erec’s words, Chrétien still claims that Erec “had no wish to harm her” (83) and that he loved Enide, but sadly, these words are reminiscent of any abuser trying to convince their victimized partner to stay. Erec’s hurtful but then forgiving pattern of behavior, as well as Enide’s personal view that she owes herself to him (another example of her as property), may convince her to stay; unfortunately, it seems as though she barely has a choice.