Between courtesy and coercion: The female figure in Guigemar of Marie de France (1160-1215)

Authors

  • Evellyn Ricardo da Silva Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Abstract

Although women are frequently revered in narratives of courtly love, their role is, in reality, subordinate and limited to secondary roles, shaped by male desire. Moreover, in the plots, the discourse of love, led by male passion, also serves as a justification for the imposition of wills that ignore women's autonomy and consent, creating space for violence and abuse. However, it is essential to consider the existence of works that, even subtly, challenge the conventional standards of courtly love, granting greater agency to female figures. In this context, this study analyzes the representation of the Lady in the lay of Guigemar, a narrative by Marie de France (1160-1215), and the reactions that the author attributes to the character in response to male advances.

 

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Author Biography

  • Evellyn Ricardo da Silva, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

    Possui graduação em História - Licenciatura pela Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Atualmente, é mestranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em História da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), na linha "Do Antigo ao Moderno: poderes, culturas e discursos", como bolsista da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) e também é membro do Laboratório de Estudos Medievais (LEME-UFPE). Tem experiência na área de História, com ênfase em História Medieval, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: estudos culturais; crítica literária; literatura francesa; ciclo arturiano.

Published

2025-09-14

How to Cite

DA SILVA, Evellyn Ricardo. Between courtesy and coercion: The female figure in Guigemar of Marie de France (1160-1215). Temporalidades, Belo Horizonte, v. 17, n. 1, p. 1–19, 2025. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/temporalidades/article/view/57594. Acesso em: 5 feb. 2026.