Analysis

The passage from “Bisclavret” and the folio from Topographica Hibernica use the werewolf to challenge what it means to be human. From the artifact from the Bestiary, it is evident that wolves were feared. They were believed to prey on humans and had supernatural powers. They could make humans mute by looking at them. This fear of wolves makes the knight’s wife’s reaction understandable to medieval readers. A human trapped in a wolf would be shocking. However, the werewolves in both stories continue to behave like humans. The bisclavret maintains its loyalty to the king and the Werewolves of Orrisory remember the religious rituals to perform before death. As a result, the “good” characters treat the werewolves like humans. The king upholds his end of the feudal condemnation ceremony and provides protection. The priest performs communion for the dying werewolf. Through these characters, these works claim that someone is human if they conduct themselves according to human values. These values include intelligence, loyalty, and piety. These werewolves are also used to test the humanity of the human characters. For example, when the wife learns about the knight’s transformations, she fails this test. She betrays their marriage and tries to prevent him from returning to human form. In the end, the bisclavret exacts judgment on her when he “tore her nose off”(Puchner 235). Marie de France uses the werewolf to reveal the monster hidden behind the woman. Meanwhile, the king and the priest pass this test. The king reciprocates the bisclavret’s loyalty and the priest demonstrates his piety by performing communion despite his fear. The bisclavret and the Werewolves of Orrisory showed medieval readers how humans should act to separate themselves from beasts and evil forces.