2. Enide also speaks for the first time in the text in this part of the romance. What are her first words? How do you interpret her speech? How does Erec interpret her speech? How do you explain his reaction? Why?
Enide speaks for the first time in this section of the text. She lies awake next to Erec and mumbles: "Wretch, unhappy me! Why did I come here from my land?" Enide is concerned for Erec's reputation, though it is clear she is truly upset over her new lifestyle. She plainly says that she is unhappy. While she lived a very simple life with her parents, protected and highly respected, she now has a very complicated life. Though her father treated her as a possession, Erec does not treat her with respect. His reaction to overhearing Enide was concern , but more so for himself. He demands to know why he is "unfortunate." When Enide does not wish to divulge any further, she is threatened by Erec. The fact that he can go from making love to Enide, then waking up and threatening to leave her if she does not tell the truth, says a lot about their love. Enide simply wants to protect him, despite the fact that she is uncomfortable with her new role/life.
3. What do you think are Erec’s intentions in taking Enide on this journey? What kind of journey is this (from Erec’s perspective)? One of adventure? Self-discovery? Renewal? Something else? Point to specific scenes within the text to support your argument.
Erec has been void of any other passions than Enide since their marriage. Although it is Enide discovers the people's disdain for Erec's decision to abandon the knighthood, Erec makes a rash decision to leave the kingdom, in full armor, with only his wife. The fact that Erec refused to bring any other company, even for protection's sake, makes it clear that he wants to be alone with Enide. The marriage and his relationship with Enide happened quite quickly. The journey with his wife is perhaps a self discovery and an affirmation that he can still have elements of his old life within his new one. However, it is also an adventure. Erec wants to travel as far as possible. He does not want any tending to his wounds, he simply wants to continue on. he welcomes any fight, and even tries to conceal his identity until it is no longer possible. Erec wants to fade out Enide for a short time, while he discovers that the rush of his old life is not dead. In modern times, many couples getting married have "cold feet." They feel that they need to experience as much as they can before marriage, or make sure they are with "the one." Even after marriage, couples need to adjust to the new lifestyle. Erec is a perfect example of this.
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