The Romance of Tristan Parts 1-6

1. Tristan acts as if he has nothing to loose. His confidence most likely stems from his title as the king’s nephew. Clearly, his title is earned. Tristan fights fair, such as letting his enemy have equal title and “self worthy” death, but he uses his physical strength to gain even more power in society. Had Tristan never gained the trust of the people, Yseut would surely have been burned or left with Ivain’s army. His fearlessness and over confidence do not end up failing him. Another possible root to all this is his unwavering faith in God.
Starting from the journey where he met Yseut, to finding the chapel on the hill, Tristan considers himself a follower of God’s word. He believes that he is in turn a very loyal servant. In reality Tristan is actually sleeping with his uncle’s wife- his “aunt”- and has betrayed honest men to do it. Tristan’s lies to cover up his affair have caused the death of many servants. He is not following the church’s commandments, rather he is breaking them. The fact that Tristan relies heavily on God to save him, so much so that he leaves God to physically guide him, is ironic.
The text illustrates Tristan to be the ultimate hero. Though he may not be altogether holy, it is clear that his faith in God gets him places. Without his unwavering confidence and stamina, his name would simply not be as respected in society. Tristan needs these characteristics to get what he wants- Yseut.


2. Language has tangible power in this text. Although Tristan and Yseut claim to have God’s will on their side, it is truly their speech that is key. When the king spies on the two of them in the tree, Tristan and Yseut know exactly the right words to handle the situation. The King could have very easily been dissuaded by their little act, but instead he is left in tears at their “genuineness.” As a whole, the plot of the text is driven based upon sure fate of situations. In real life, “magic” is not real. Circumstances such as Brangain and the bed chambers, the King in the tree, the roses sent down the river, ect., add a fairytale-like element to the text. Yseut is able to see Tristan not because she is physically strong or extremely beautiful, but because she can convince other’s to do what she wants. Tristan is able to escape his death by convincing his capturers that he want’s to pray. Though it is unlikely this would ever truly happen, it allows Tristan to escape. Both lie and swear that they are telling the truth throughout various times in the text. Truth is not really valued. The stories and lies told by every character in the text is used as a tool to gain whatever it is the character is seeking. Weather it is Tristan and Yseut’s love for each other, the King’s desire for power and control, or the servants gaining the trust of the King, the art of language is able to give them the tools they need to succeed.