Introduction

Are werewolves human or monsters? Being a hybrid of a wolf and a human, the werewolf blurs the line dividing humans and monsters and seems to be an in-between. Throughout the lais, Bisclavret, the image that werewolves are the physical representation of human vengeance is used. Werewolves are described as “savage beasts” in a “blood rage”, in short, they are described with traits one would often correspond with monsters such as ferocity and viciousness. At the same time, werewolves are described with human traits such as loyalty and gentleness, even in their beastly forms (Bisclavret,II. 9-10). This begs the question, is it the human form that determines if someone is human or not? Simply, the answer is no. This follows the medieval thought that monsters are not inhuman beings but beings that simply demonstrate or signify something (Beckwith 2020). A human is simply a being that is rational and mortal regardless of physical traits (Beckwith 2020). In Bisclavret, werewolves very clearly fit both conditions, the werewolf in the story demonstrates rational thought when trying to gain the king’s favor and yet also demonstrates the viscousness a man can have when the urge of vengeance is so strong. The two different sides of the werewolf and its directed monstrous urges are shown in this collection, including three different illustrations of a werewolf. This collection and the lais written by Marie De France show that the lines between monster and human are very easily blurred and that, like in the case of the werewolf, monsters are often just the portrayal of humans becoming monsters due to their urges and emotions. In other words, werewolves and other monsters are simply “built from human parts” (Bullard 2017). This exhibit will be drawing on evidence from medieval texts and prints and will be analyzing lines 219 to 250 from Bisclavret:

“Not too long after this occurred
—such is my thought, so I have heard—
Into the forest went the king
—so noble and so wise a being—
Where he’d first found the bisclavret.
The animal was with him yet.
The night of this return, the king
took, in this countryside, lodging.
And this wife of Bisclovret 
well knew. Dressed fetchingly, she set
Out to have speech with him the next day;
Rich gifts were part of her display.
Bisclavret saw her come. No man
had strength to hold him as he ran
up to his wife in rage and fury.
Hear of his vengeance! Hear the story!
He tore her nose off, then and there.
What worse could he have done to her?
From all sides now, and full of threat
Men ran and would have killed him, but
a wise man expeditiously
spoke to the king. “Listen to me? 
He's been with you, this animal; 
there is no man of us all 
who has not, long since, had to see 
and travel with him, frequently, 
and he has harmed no one, not once 
shown viciousness nor violence 
save just now, as you saw him do.
And by the faith I owe to you
He has some bitter quarrel with her
And with her husband, her seigneur.”