3. In the chantefable of Aucassin and Nicolette, The power of love overcomes anything that comes in your way. The power to fight for what one believes in is more powerful than money, social status, or nobility. When a person’s heart is truly set on a goal or another person, no amount of money or offering of power comes close to getting in the way of them achieving that goal or obtaining the love of that person. Anyone who puts money before love would not be as happy as someone who would fight for something they believe in. Like the old saying, “Money can’t by happiness.”
4. Aucassin, one of the main characters in Aucassin and Nicolette, proves how fighting for what one believes is a noble characteristic to have.
His undying love for Nicolette propels him through dangerous and fearsome tasks. In addition, he needs to battle against his own father, who does not approve of his love for Nicolette. In order for him to see Nicolette, Aucassin agrees to fight for his land in exchange for a kiss by his love. The brave and noble action of fighting for his land, even though it is not one of his desires, proves how much love Aucassin has for Nicolette; he will do everything and anything in order to be with his sweet lover. Nicolette, as well, must battle to be with her lover, Aucassin. Once she becomes imprisoned, she escapes by climbing out of the window and flees into the dark woods. In the woods, Nicolette fights for survival and overcomes all the dangers that are presented to her. Her undeniable love for the noble Aucassin gives her the strength to fight through it all. Through all of this, Nicolette is thought only to be poor and of no nobility at all. Even still she does not fight for money or to gain noble status, but instead she fights to see her lover again and to live a happy life embraced with true love.
5. In the chantefable, Aucassin and Nicolette battle relentlessly to be with their significant other once again. Through this battle, they permanently realize that they do not need wealth or power to be happy, only each other. Money does not play a big role for them. As well, Aucassin and Nicolette prosper even though they go through an extremely long and arduous separation. They will fight and endure insurmountable pain in order to be loved by one another. Fighting for something as special as love, like Nicolette and Aucassin did for each other, will overcome any meaningless battle that rewards currency or power.
6. Why would Aucassin’s father rather see him suffer without Nicolette than see him happy with her? He would rather see his son suffer because to the father, money and nobility are very important when choosing a spouse. Since Nicolette does not possess any of the money or nobility the father requires, he does not approve of Aucassin’s love for her. According to the father, love is determined by wealth and power.
Is the love between Aucassin and Nicolette true love? Yes it is definitely true love, because they turn down money, power, fame, and nobility so they can be together. Both Aucassin and Nicolette endure so much pain and several obstacles to end up with each other. Also, neither would marry nor try to be with another man or woman. All they need is each other to be truly happy. When just the acceptance and praise of a single person is all one needs to be happy, then it really is true love.
7. According to Virginia M. Green, Aucassin and Nicolette is solely based on the economy and the love that they have for each other has to do with money. Nicolette and Aucassin do not belong in this category because they prove that they do not need money to be happy with their lives. She states that Nicolette symbolizes merchandise and that Aucassin is the merchant. He continually pays a higher and higher price in order to see Nicolette, or how Green would put it “he pays a higher price because Nicolette’s value continues to increase”, not because he loves her. I totally disagree with this statement. Aucassin and Nicolette’s love for each other does not relate to money in any way at all. In fact, Aucassin loves Nicolette even though she is a low slave and has no money at all. If it was love based on money, then the two lovers never would have put forth the effort to battle through as many obstacles as they did in order for them to be together. Aucassin and Nicolette’s love is pure as fallen snow and no money or power would get in the way of that.
8. Green, Virginia M. "Aucassin Et Nicolette: The Economics of Desire." SpringerLink. 1995. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. Web.