A Mantle, A Maiden, and An Outrage

"The Saga of the Mantle" challenges the rules of courtly love, in my opinion. The rules of courtly love are generally directed at men, not women. These rules also imply, if not explicitly direct lovers not to have contact. This story as well as Lancelot take it to a point where these rules are broken. "The Saga of the Mantle" also only calls women out on their infidelity which, in my opinion, is wrong. These women cannot be unfaithful to their husbands or their beloveds without another man to help them. Generally women are seen as those who are shamed but at the same time the men who they were in faithful with should also have been shamed or even better the beloveds, knights, who were so distraught at their women's infidelity should have been tested because there is little chance that they would come out as perfect as the final maiden had. On aspect I enjoyed was the reaction of the last knight, he loved his maiden far to much to know of any infidelity which is how I feel many couples act and feel today, I mean how often do men or women deny infidelity by their significant other due to the fact that they love them too much to accept it or believe it. I was greatly bothered by Arthur's response to the mantle in the first place, immediately calling for his wife to try it on, like does he not trust her or is it just because she is indeed the queen and should be allowed to go first. Also it was not revealed his reaction to his wife's unfaithfulness as some of the other knights' feelings were revealed. I feel that Arthur's feelings on Guinevere's infidelity is crucial to the overall Arthur legend. Lastly, Guinevere lost some points in my book by getting so enraged then having the "brilliant" idea to then humiliate all of her ladies, who she probably had some knowledge or inclination that they were just as unfaithful as she.