The Dismal Science of Yvain
Near the end of Yvain’s story when Gawain is revealing his name he starts talking about blows inflicted in terms of interest (pg 262 in mine, roughly verse 6300).
“For if I have lent you anything of mine, you have fully paid me back, principal and interest, for you were more ready to pay back than I was to accept the payment.” This made me think about the nearly absent role of money in the society. The knights don’t pay for lodging, just invite themselves and/or are invited by grateful townsfolk. Horses are traded based on need (i.e. an exhausted one for a fresh one) Currency/bullion etc is never used; gold is only mentioned for its beauty and adornment. Ditto with precious gems decorating helmets, crowns, etc. Kings’ power isn’t measured in vast stores of gold. Etc.
I guess I can see from a general sense why Chretien would ignore money on the whole. The code of chivalry is ostensibly about the ideal of serving (either the weak, fellow knights in trouble, the imprisoned, the object of one’s courtly love) whereas trade implies a situation of base materials and personal benefit.
More specifically however, Gawaine’s language seems to implicitly praise money lending; I can’t imagine a knight would refer to an equal’s conduct by comparing it to a sin. Yet at the time this was written, the Catholic Church was aggressive in policing against “usury.” Is this just the work of an anachronistic translator? In reference to moneylending Crusader orders? Some other alternative?
sean wrote:
Great observation. Without detaining ourselves too long on the old French, the notes to the Penguin edition tell us that Chrétien develops this elaborate economic metaphor himself, and also in Cliges.
It’s hard to know what specifically he referred to; despite the prohibition on usury, moneylending helped drive medieval economies. Gawain’s language is ironic, as it implies he was enriched by the investment he made in striking Yvain. Perhaps it figures into a larger economic metaphor of prowess (proesce) and courtesy as symbolic wealth. The more blows you strike, and the more courteous your visible outward behavior, the more your reputation is enhanced. But bravery or courtesy without an audience (or without visible proof or a good story) to go with it, does not enhance one’s wealth in the economy of reputation.
Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 10:38 am ¶