Idylls of the King · Chapter
The Marriage of Geraint explained
Geraint, a knight of Arthur's court, marries Enid, the daughter of the impoverished Earl Yniol.
What happens
Geraint, a knight of Arthur's court, marries Enid, the daughter of the impoverished Earl Yniol. After a rumor spreads about Queen Guinevere's guilty love for Lancelot, Geraint becomes suspicious that Enid might be tainted by her close friendship with the Queen. He takes Enid to his own land, where he becomes so absorbed in his love for her that he neglects his knightly duties, leading to public scorn. Enid grows sad, fearing she is the cause of his decline, but hesitates to speak. The chapter also recounts Geraint's first encounter with Enid at her father's ruined hall, his vow to avenge an insult to the Queen by defeating the 'sparrow-hawk' knight, and his later test of Enid's obedience by asking her to ride to court in her faded silk rather than a new gown.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Betrayal
Geraint's love for Enid is overshadowed by suspicion of her loyalty due to the rumor of Guinevere's betrayal with Lancelot.
Chivalry and Honor
Geraint's neglect of knightly duties for uxoriousness leads to public shame, contrasting with his earlier vow to avenge the Queen's insult.
Ideal vs. Real
The ideal of a perfect marriage and knightly honor clashes with the reality of Geraint's suspicion and Enid's silent suffering.
Characters to notice
- Geraint
A brave knight of Arthur's court who marries Enid, becomes uxorious and neglects his duties, and later tests Enid's loyalty.
- Enid
Yniol's daughter, married to Geraint; she is loving and obedient but saddened by her husband's neglect and the people's gossip.
- Guinevere
The Queen, who loves Enid and arrays her in splendor; a rumor of her guilty love for Lancelot causes Geraint's suspicion.
- Lancelot
Mentioned in the rumor of guilty love with Guinevere, which affects Geraint's trust in Enid.
- Earl Yniol
Enid's father, a ruined earl who welcomes Geraint and tells him of the sparrow-hawk knight and the suitors Limours and his nephew.
- King Arthur
The King who grants Geraint permission to leave court and defend his marches.
- Earl Limours
A former suitor of Enid, described as a creature given to brawls and wine.
Key passages
“The brave Geraint, a knight of Arthur's court, A tributary prince of Devon, one Of that great Order of the Table Round, Had married Enid, Yniol's only child, And loved her, as he loved the light of Heaven.”
Geraint, a valiant knight and prince of Devon who belongs to the Round Table, married Enid, the sole daughter of Earl Yniol, and cherished her as dearly as he cherished the light of heaven.
Introduces Geraint's marriage and deep love for Enid.
“But when a rumour rose about the Queen, Touching her guilty love for Lancelot, Though yet there lived no proof, nor yet was heard The world's loud whisper breaking into storm, Not less Geraint believed it; and there fell A horror on him, lest his gentle wife, Through that great tenderness for Guinevere, Had suffered, or should suffer any taint In nature.”
When a rumor spread about the Queen's guilty love for Lancelot, even without proof, Geraint believed it and feared that his wife might be corrupted by her close friendship with Guinevere.
Shows Geraint's suspicion and its impact on his trust in Enid.
“And this forgetfulness was hateful to her. And by and by the people, when they met In twos and threes, or fuller companies, Began to scoff and jeer and babble of him As of a prince whose manhood was all gone, And molten down in mere uxoriousness.”
Enid hated Geraint's neglect of his duties, and soon people began to mock him as a prince whose manhood had melted away into excessive devotion to his wife.
Highlights the public shame and Enid's distress over Geraint's uxoriousness.
“Far liefer had I gird his harness on him, And ride with him to battle and stand by, And watch his mightful hand striking great blows At caitiffs and at wrongers of the world.”
I would much rather strap on his armor and ride with him into battle, watching his mighty hand strike down villains and wrongdoers.
Enid expresses her desire for Geraint to return to his knightly duties rather than stay idle with her.
“Here by God's rood is the one maid for me.”
By the cross of Christ, this is the only maiden for me.
Geraint's immediate recognition of Enid as his destined love upon first seeing her.
“I vowed that could I gain her, our fair Queen, No hand but hers, should make your Enid burst Sunlike from cloud.”
I swore that if I could win her, only the Queen herself should dress Enid and make her shine like the sun emerging from a cloud.
Geraint explains his plan for Guinevere to clothe Enid, symbolizing their bond.
