Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Defining a Werewolf

After going over Bisclavret in class, I decided to look up the true definition of a werewolf. Webster defines a werewolf as transformed or was capable of transforming himself at times into a wolf. To me, Marie de France has a much different idea. In his human form, Bisclavret was a knight who was highly praised and conducted himself nobly. However, as a werewolf, it seems to me like Bisclavret was even more accepted and in closer standing with the king. In the text, Marie de France refers to werewolves as beasts which, when possessed by madness, devours men, causes great damage and dwells in vast forests. This makes me wonder if the author wanted her audience to feel a certain way about Bisclavret while reading, before actually going through the storyline and unpacking the character.

As for Bisclavret’s wife, I think she was a character that could never be trusted. She tortured Bisclavret to the point where he tells her his secret and she reacts in a very negative way. At the end, I was happy she got what she deserved.




"A Werewolf Is: Identifying the Werewolf in Marie De France’s Bisclavret."Involuted Speculations. 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

2 comments:

  1. I genuinely enjoyed reading this post. I do believe also that Marie de France wanted the reader to understand how a werewolf is viewed on a typical day, but then proves that being a werewolf doesn't have to be all about blood and gore. However, the untrustworthy, backstabbing, manipulative "wife" who completely betrays him, does get what she DESERVES! :)

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  2. I found this story fascinating as how different the werewolf was defined then as it is in modern culture. For example in Harry Potter they are used as a metaphor of people with HIV. In Stephen King's Cycle of the Werewolf the werewolf represents the minister's repressed desires. In many other stories they are considered ravenous monsters that terrify even beasts.

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