This section will focus on providing supporting evidence from the connections between the bisclavret and the text, artefacts, and the scholar's opinion. It seeks to demonstrate that one’s virtue, rather than appearance, reveals one’s humanity, as mentioned in the Introduction. This section is structured around two key aspects: 1). the courtly behaviours and virtuous attributes; 2). the recovery of human identity.

1.0 Aspect 1: The Courtly Behaviours and Virtuous Attributes

1.1 Text and Scholar Opinion

As mentioned in Literacy Monster, several literary devices were used to strengthen the bisclavret’s virtuousness. The bisclavret’s loyalty and self-discipline were vividly described through the daily interactions between the king and the bisclavret in the selected passage. The bisclavret never “lose the king, abandon him, for anything”, and he even “lived, and slept close by the king”. Everyone sees the bisclavret’s “loyal love” because “[i]t never wanted to harm”, and protect the king “wherever he might go or move”(Gilbert, lines 160-184). 

Moreover, through the juxtaposition between the betrayal of the wife and the loyalty and courtliness of the bisclavret, we can clearly see his virtuous qualities deep inside his nature.

Even though the wife was a human, her betrayal in the relationship misaligned her in morally and socially acceptable conduct. On the other hand, even though the bisclavret was trapped in his werewolf shape and suffered from adversity, he did not irrationally seek revenge on others (Gilbert). Instead, the bisclavret can still serve his firm loyalty towards the king and retain his respect and courtliness (Gilbert). Hence, his resilience, loyalty, and self-discipline rising from adversity all prove his virtuousness and his humanity.

However, as mentioned in Literacy Monster, there were scholars who refuted the bisclavret’s virtuous traits, and considered gender violence as a sign of animalistic rage, and the courtly behaviours were only a camouflage (Bettini; Oswald). However, the bisclavret’s action towards his wife was rightful punishment and his humanity still retained (Curtis; Freeman).

1.2 Primary Artefact

By contrast, the two werewolves in the primary artefact showed love and care for each other. As analyzed in Primary Artefact, the interaction between the priest and the two werewolves also demonstrates the werewolves’ humanity through gratitude, sincerity, and loyal love towards their partner.

We can therefore see the connection between the text and artefact, that both the king and the priest did not judge the werewolves based on appearance. Instead, they observed the werewolves and discovered the true intentions inside the “ monsters”, and treated the werewolves as humans. 

1.3 Secondary Artefact: Werewolf or the Cannibal

The artefact, Werewolf or the Cannibal, provides counter-evidence on the misalignment between appearance and humanity.

The juxtaposition between the bisclavret and the cannibal werewolf is that, the bisclavret was depicted as wolf shape but with human goodness towards the king (Gilbert), whereas the cannibal werewolf in human skin killed and ate babies and women, illustrating his monstrosity. 

Similar contrast occurs in the comparison between the witch in K&C and the bisclavret in Literacy Monster. Hence, both cannibal werewolf and the witch demonstrate how humans act with monstrosity, and how the bisclavret obtains his humanity.