Courtly love in the 'verse

[goldenboy]

courtly love
n.
"An idealized and often illicit form of love celebrated in the literature of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in which a knight or courtier devotes himself to a noblewoman who is usually married and feigns indifference to preserve her reputation. "



Alright, the Bangel thread got me to thinking about the idea of the Buffy/Angel romance as an example of courtly love: forbidden, unrequited love.

http://marauder.millersville.edu/~resound//court.html

If that link holds any truth to it, courtly love springs out of the ancient Celtic tradition of female power, goddess worship. Courtly love was a post-pagan, medieval manifestation of this idea. Venerating the powerful, forbidden female. An idealized love. Diana becomes the Virgin Mary in the mythic scheme of things.

I think Buffy/Angel is a prime example of this. It actually works both ways in that instance. Both probably idealized eachother in a way. Worshipped the idea of the relationship. It wasn't class or station that prevented their love, but a gypsy curse. Yet the result was similar. Pining from afar, idealizing.

There are other examples of female veneration, idealization. Fred being a prime example. Wesley was a courtly lover of sorts to Fred. Unrequited love again. He worshipped her. And with her approaching death, they all came to "worship" Fred. The chaste, idealized, powerful woman became THE motivator for Team Angel.

Other examples in the 'verse too I'm sure. Oh, yeah, two knights competing for their lady (Angel, Spike"”for Buffy).

Spike to Buffy: "you make me want to be a better man", something to that effect.

 

[Xander]

At first I thought the title was "Courtney Love in the 'verse", that would have been interesting.

But hmm I've argued (kinda, nothing too serious) about this with LL before about Fred and Wesley. Yeah they both idealised each other in an unhealthy childish way but its only TV at the end of the day. Personally I know its not good but sometimes its nice to see love like that. Plus I know at times we can't not idealise some people, it just happens.

Not up to parr with perhaps the intelligent reponses you were hoping for, but something like love I go back to the heart really. Im a romantic deep down.

 

[Cookie Dough]

They had to be deeply in love with each other so that the fact that they could never be together would have the effect it was supposed to on fans and on the characters.

 

[goldenboy]

Yeah, and you know with my analogy I didn't want to imply that the Buffy/Angel love wasn't real (in the show) or anything. I do think that first love, or any love really, can get out of one's control, sometimes completely. Purely unconditional, unselfish love is tough, maybe impossible. Buffy and Angel seemed to take control of their feelings to an extent. Realized their impossible circumstance, yet maintained their love, sort of courtly style.

And the Wesley/Fred love at the bitter end was very real, to me anyways. If it was a tearjerking plot maneuver, I fell for it.

I do like the themes of chivalry and duty mixed with love that pop up in the 'verse now and again. Duty can involve sacrifice, sometimes sacrificing even a romantic love for someone. (Rick giving up the Ingrid Bergman character at the end of "Casablanca"). And that concept itself seems very romantic, yet it has real world implications.

The Angel episode in season 2 where he's fighting for that woman and her unborn child is obvious courtly behavior. To the point of jousting in the streets.

Courtney Love would have made a very disturbing Big Bad.

 

[Feigenbaum]

I agree.

Buffy and Angel did have that 'unrealistic' courtly love as you say goldenboy... but isn't that what we all are wishing for in some way. When we sometimes feel that our relationships are lackluster, because we are not achieving that courtly love.

I think it is very tricky. I know that some people despise their relationship because it was maybe naive and unrealistic. But I feel that may be totally the opposite. Yes, it might have been unrealstic, but that's what we are all dreaming of. A white knight or a beautiful maiden to sweep us off our feet.