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Lais · Theme
Jealousy and Possessiveness
How Lais develops Jealousy and Possessiveness.
Jealousy, often from older husbands or guardians, drives conflict and tragedy, as in 'The Lay of Gugemar' where the King imprisons his young wife, and 'The Lay of the Nightingale' where a husband kills the bird to control his wife.
Where it surfaces
- The Lay of the Nightingale
The husband's jealousy drives him to trap and kill the nightingale, symbolizing his attempt to control his wife's affections.
- The Lay of Equitan
The seneschal's jealousy upon discovering his wife's infidelity drives him to kill both her and the king.
- The Lay of Yonec
The old husband's extreme jealousy leads him to imprison his wife and ultimately set a deadly trap for her lover.