"Erec and Enide" pgs 60-90

1. In the transition from Erec's part to Enide's part is very evident. After catching the white stag, Erec and the court plan Erec's wedding. We still do not know Enide's name until after the first 3 pages of the second movement. We learn of her name at the altar when they are about to wed. In the story, Chretien writes that in order for a woman be recognized as married, she must "be named by her proper name" (62). Once Enide and Erec get married, we start to see Enide's character emerge. She is very "one-toned" with her emotions, and not a very conventional character. This which is very interested to see as a reader, and is a very interesting experience for Erec.

2. Enide first speaks in the text the morning after they had slept together for the first time and she thinks that Erec is sleeping. She begins weeping and talking about how unhappy she is with herself and what she has made Erec become since he has married her. Her first first words are "wretch, unhappy me!" (68). With her speech, Erec wakes up and does not understand her reasons for being upset. Erec is surprised to hear Enide speak, considering that up until that moment in time, he had never heard her utter a word to him or anyone else. Erec interprets her speech as banter at first and tries to make her feel better by trying to comfort her. As the story goes on and Enide begins speaking more, Erec gets more annoyed and frustrated by her lack of confidence in him. Enide is truly in love with Erec and wants the best for him. She frequently says that she would be lost without him if he ever died. Many times, throughout the text, Erec tells Enide to stop speaking and that he will only forgive her once for speaking out. Enide is genuinly in love with Erec and actually afraid of losing him- Erec does not understand her gestures. He would rather a woman who is capable of looking pretty and one that preferably, does not speak.