Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 8567
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Campbell , Ian R.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: An Act of Mercy: The Cadoc Episode in Hartmann von Aue's "Erec" [argues that Hartmann restructures the episode so that Cadoc and his lady serve as projections of Erec and Enite; in rescuing the two Erec works toward a reconciliation with Enite].
  • Source: Monatshefte 88, 1 (Spring 1996): Pages 4 - 16.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Cadoc's Lady (Literary Figure) Chretien de Troyes, Poet- Erec et Enide Enite (Literary Figure) Hartmann von Aue, Poet- Erec Literature- Verse Women in Literature
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: France;Germany
  • Century: 12
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations:
  • Table:
  • Abstract: The Cadoc episode has generally been seen to be important as the occasion of Erec's first combat undertaken for a purely altruistic reason. Since Enite's role is minimal, it has been felt that the episode adds little to our understanding of Erec's relationship with her. A close comparison with Chrétien's "Erec at Enide" and the Norse "Erex saga" however, brings out more clearly Hartmann's conception of the scene. The return of Cadoc to his lady is restructured so that Erec is effectively having her love and loyalty put to the test. The test is passed and the couple's relationship is restored on the firmest possible basis. This is Erec's real act of mercy in this episode, exceeding the mere fact of his intervention. If Cadoc and his lady can be seen as projections of Erec and Enite, then in restoring their relationship Erec is taking a step towards rescuing his own marriage. [Reproduced by permission of the University of Wisconsin Press.]
  • Related Resources:
  • Author's Affiliation: University of New England, New South Wales
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 1996.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 00269271