Enchanting the Punishment: Representations of Fairy Lady as Punisher in Sir Launfal and The Romans of Partenay

Abstract

This article discusses the ‘fairy’ ladies as lovers, helpers and punishers in Middle English metrical romances. It mainly concentrates on the representations of the fairy ladies Lady Tryamour in Sir Launfal and Melusine in The Romans of Partenay. It discusses how these fairy ladies are presented as lovers, helpers and also as punishers of their lover and husband, what makes them distinctive, their differences from the mortal female lovers, helpers and punishers. Meanwhile, their fairy worlds are argued whether they are really sanctuaries for the mortal males who are desperately in need of support and protection, or they are disguised hells. The fairy ladies are compared with saintly helpers when they provide assistance to the mortal males through enchantments; however the reasons of the changes in their roles from helpers to punishers are presented in detail with specific examples from the romances. Enchantment is also discussed whether it is a means of relief or a sinister threat and even a punishment not only for the male lover but also for the other characters in the romances. By arguing the nature of fairies, their fairy world and their use of enchantment either for help or as a threat, this article discusses how angelic and villainous the fairy ladies are, and it presents how they ‘enchant help’ when they meet desperate males, as well as they ‘enchant punishment’ once they are threatened or betrayed.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n9p421