Knights

This item is titled The Shield of Parade, and also dates back to the 15th century. Its original artist is unknown, but it was donated to the British Museum by Rev. John Wilson in the 19th century. Three figures are painted on the shield: a lady, a knight, and death.The knight is kneeling before the lady, while death creeps behind him. Above him, written in French script, is "Vous ou la Mort," meaning "You or Death" in English (The Shield of Parade, The British Musuem). The Encyclopedia Britannica states that while knighthood today is a title of honour for a variety of services, in the European Middle Ages, knights were formal cavalrymen. As knighthood flourished, it began to become increasingly associated with Christian ideals. Knights, according to this ideal, were supposed to respect the church, protect the poor and the weak, remain loyal to their feudal or military superiors, and preserve personal honour ("Knight.") As previously mentioned, the tale of Bisclavret features two knights - Bisclavret himself, and the lover of his wife.For Bisclavret, who repeatedly claimed he would be lost without the love of his wife, the shield may speak to his devotion to her as well as his metaphorical death, which he experiences by her betrayal and his subsequent exile.The knight is also incredibly devoted to the unnamed wife, harboring his love for her for a significant time, and willing partake in her betrayal so that he may be with her. 

The popular Christian ideals affiliated with knighthood are particularly meaningful, given that Marie was likely a Christian nun. Her position as a nun would have made her even more intimate with these values than the average medieval person or reader.The knight fails to comply with the ideals. Her husband was a lord, therefore higher ranking than him, and while he and the unnamed wife eventually marry, she technically is still married to Bisclavret.  In the eyes of the church, adultery would certainly be dishonourable. Their technical affair adds another dimension of monstrosity to the story. There is no mention of disregard or failure to protect the poor, but both the knight and the wife indulge in extravagant riches during Bisclavret's absence. Arriving at court, Marie describes the knight as "so richly dressed, so splendidly!" and emphasizes wealth in the reappearance of the wife as well, writing that "rich gifts were part of her display," and describing her as "dressed fetchingly." (Gilbert 303). The knight and wife enjoy a rather lavish lifestyle, despite believing that Bisclavret remains trapped in the forest by their own doing, indicating their selfishness and lack of remorse.