Day One: Erec and Enide

3) Eric and Enide are a match only ever made in literature, Erec is strong of body and Enide is strong of mind. In real life it is rare for that kind of mix to be made and be successful even in the first few days. The two strangers are taken aback by each other the first time they meet, neither has seen the others equal. I find this statement to be true in the text but it rather displeases me, as a person of modern ideology, to acknowledge a couple marrying for looks alone to be able to get along so well. I for see this sort of random love as a sign towards the future of the couple. Both look at each other and are caught by each others beauty, and yet Enide doesn't even get the respect of having her name spoken in the text.
I understand the depth of the mirror comment but it can also be said that he admires her for looks just as a rich stock-broker would admire the looks of his over-priced Ferrari. To follow the actual question, however, no person can be seen to the level as we see ourselves. To be seeing her as we would ourselves is to say that there is a radiant depth in the beauty of Enide that put's her in the status of angel.

4) I would like to compare the contest over the Sparrow-Hawk to a modern-day "contest" that is equally brutal. The contest that I would like to use is a simple bar fight, the reason being that in both places the guy is fighting for honor and for the girl. Neither incident considered the ending consequences for the loser who is either dead or is sent off in shame. My main point here is that the center of he incident is a masculine focal point, it's the two beefy guys who are ready and willing to tear each other apart. Also, both are likely sparked by stray insult's flying from either and overconfident mouth or a dwarf's unwise hand. The general basis between the two contests is especially similar, Erec was insulted by the mysterious knight's dwarf who struck him just as a brawl may be started by one man's insult to another party. Power in a bar setting is based on a man's ability to at least look the part of defending him and his girl friend, just as it is so for a knight to defend his maiden in order to gain power and respect. To me fighting is fighting and I see it as nothing more then a man's eagerness to show off to the ladies, the whole process of the contest in this text is simply geared towards provoking another into a fight.

P.S. I respect that the times that this book is based in were far different and that this type of incident was put in the same esteem as a football game is today, but my feeling's on fighting and killing are based on belief's of today that cannot be shaken. To me fighting is fighting, whether your excuse be for the hand of a lovely maiden or for respect from the rest of the drunk's at the bar.