The Lais of Marie de France
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue I. Guigemar II. Equitan III. Le Fresne IV. Bisclavret V. Lanval VI. Les Deus Amanz VII. Yonec VIII. Laüstic IX. Milun X. Chaitivel XI. Chevrefoil XII. Eliduc
Themes
All Themes Love and Suffering Virtue, Vice, and Justice Gender Roles and Class Status Magic and Storytelling
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Marie de France Guigemar The Young Lady Meriaduc Equitan The Seneschal The Seneschal’s Wife The Slanderous Wife (Le Fresne’s Mother) Le Fresne Gurun La Codre Bisclavret Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife Bisclavret’s Wife’s Lover Lanval The Fairy Lady King Arthur Arthur’s Queen The Lord of the Pistrians The Lord of the Pistrians’ Daughter The Young Man The Lady of Caerwent Muldumarec Yonec The Lord of Caerwent The Married Lady The Bachelor Knight Milun The Damsel Milun’s Son The Indecisive Lady The Wounded Knight Tristram Iseult Eliduc Guildelüec Guilliadun
Terms
All Terms Lay/Lai
Symbols
All Symbols Animals
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The Lais of Marie de France

by

Marie de France
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Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife Character Analysis

Bisclavret’s wife is, of course, married to Bisclavret. She is a suspicious and discontented spouse. Unaware that Bisclavret is a werewolf, she presses him mercilessly about his whereabouts each week, and when she learns the truth, she betrays him by sending her lover to steal Bisclavret’s clothes and ensuring that he can’t become human again. Later, when she brings the king a gift, Bisclavret attacks her in revenge, tearing her nose off. Then, the king has her tortured to find out the truth about Bisclavret. She quickly tells him everything and brings Bisclavret’s hidden clothes. After Bisclavret’s transformation and the restoration of his baronage, the ex-wife and her lover are banished from the kingdom. Bisclavret’s wife goes on to have many children, and the girls are born without noses, a reminder of their mother’s disloyalty.

Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife Quotes in The Lais of Marie de France

The The Lais of Marie de France quotes below are all either spoken by Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife or refer to Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love and Suffering Theme Icon
).
IV. Bisclavret Quotes

Not long afterwards, as I understand it, the king, who was wise and courtly, went into the forest where Bisclavret had been discovered. Bisclavret accompanied him and on the way home that night the king took lodging in that region. Bisclavret’s wife learnt of this and, dressing herself elegantly, went next day to speak to the king, taking an expensive present for him. When Bisclavret saw her approach, no one could restrain him. He dashed towards her like a madman. Just hear how successfully he took his revenge. He tore the nose right off her face.

Related Characters: Marie de France (speaker), Bisclavret, Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife
Related Symbols: Animals
Virtue, Vice, and Justice Theme Icon
Magic and Storytelling Theme Icon
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
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Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife Quotes in The Lais of Marie de France

The The Lais of Marie de France quotes below are all either spoken by Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife or refer to Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love and Suffering Theme Icon
).
IV. Bisclavret Quotes

Not long afterwards, as I understand it, the king, who was wise and courtly, went into the forest where Bisclavret had been discovered. Bisclavret accompanied him and on the way home that night the king took lodging in that region. Bisclavret’s wife learnt of this and, dressing herself elegantly, went next day to speak to the king, taking an expensive present for him. When Bisclavret saw her approach, no one could restrain him. He dashed towards her like a madman. Just hear how successfully he took his revenge. He tore the nose right off her face.

Related Characters: Marie de France (speaker), Bisclavret, Bisclavret’s Wife/Ex-Wife
Related Symbols: Animals
Virtue, Vice, and Justice Theme Icon
Magic and Storytelling Theme Icon
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
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