The medieval institution of knighthood lived and died by a code of chivalry that included courage, honor, loyalty, and consideration for others. The influences of Christianity and courtly love expanded the code of chivalry to include religious piety as well as refined social grace and manners. But despite the respectable nature of all it stood for, this knightly code of honor was depicted as having many problematic aspects in Chretien de Troyes' Erec and Enide. These problems stemmed from a knight's sense of pride, a feeling of obligation to avenge the wronged, and the eternal search for adventure and honor.

The story begins with King Arthur's wish to revive the custom of the hunt for the white stag. The custom is such that, whoever kills the white stag, has the right to kiss the most beautiful maiden at court. This is complicated by the fact that there are at least five hundred beautiful young ladies in attendance whose knights would be greatly angered and insulted if the one that they served was not chosen as the loveliest of all. This could obviously cause many fights between the knights since their maiden's beauty helped to distinguish them amon

Enide spoke of Erec to her cousin "no longer has he need to prove his valor and excellence. No one among his age has his renown and I do not believe he has an equal" (Chretien 78). Erec has finally proven himself and has won everyone's respect. He returns home with Enide and they are crowned. He is now a king, the greatest honor imaginable.

The knight was King Evrain's nephew, Maboagrain, and the woman sitting on the bed was Enide's cousin. The woman had made Maboagrain promise to stay in the garden with her forever, until another knight could defeat him in combat. Maboagrain tells Erec "it was right for me to stay rather than break my promise, which I never should have given" (Chretien 75). This statement shows the power of a knight's word of honor. Although he really did not want to stay in the garden, he loved this woman, and had made a promise to her he had to keep. "From the moment I understood the will of the person I held dearest of all, I had to give the appearance and expression that nothing displeased me, for had she noticed she would have taken back her heart" (Chretien 75). The problem with keeping one's word in this scene is that Maboagrain was miserable and stuck within a garden for years before he was able to get out. When all is considered the knight could have allowed himself to be defeat!

Erec takes Enide to King Arthur's court where he marries her in splendid fashion. They are very happy together and "Erec loved Enide with such love that he cared no more for feats of arms, nor did he attend tournaments. He had no desire to joust" (Chretien 31). It is this intense love for his wife and loss of interest in fighting that causes all of Erec's companions to despise his marriage to Enide. People begin to talk about Erec and this hurts Enide greatly. One night he hears her lamenting and when she finally tells him why, Erec gets insulted. His pride is hurt, and he therefore decides that he must prove his manhood to Enide as well as himself. They embark on a journey in search of adventure and Enide is forbidden to speak, in order for Erec to test her love for him.

In the next scene Erec and Enide meet a count that falls in lust with Enide and plans to take her against her will. When Enide refuses the count threatens her by saying "Right or wrong, I shall have your lord slain before your eyes" (Chretien 43). She replies by telling him that he "would be guilty of despicable treachery" (Chretien 43). It is clear here that this count has no sense of honor and he serves to contrast Erec. Part of the knightly code of honor is to avoid deception and this man obviously has no problem being deceitful. Enide warns Erec and they escape, but not without wounding the count first.

The story of Erec and Enide sh

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Approximate Word count = 1865
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)