The Lais of Marie de France

The Lais of Marie de France

Does good conquer evil in these stories

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I suppose this depends on the particular story you are referring to. I would equate "good" with "love" within the context of these stories. Her stories consider various perspectives on love relationships, including marriage, extramarital affairs, love between lords and vassals, and love between parents and children. Each lay considers how different types of love either bring happiness, as in "Guigemar," or how they lead to unhappiness, as in "Equitan." Sometimes a sacred, happy love is quashed by the world outside it, as in "Laustic," whereas other times selfish loves are punished, as in "Bisclavret." Every single one of the poems can be understood in terms of this theme.