How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
Rivalen served Mark so well that as a reward he was given the hand of Mark's sister, Blanchefleur, with whom he had fallen in love. They were married in Tintagel, but news of an attack on his own land immediately recalled Rivalen to Lyonesse. Soon after Rivalen had defeated his enemies Blanchefleur gave birth to a son, but amid great lamentation died in childbirth. The child born in sorrow was named Tristan. (1.39)
Like father, like son: Tristan will also be "given" two women for his service to their fathers in defeating an enemy. Here, Tristan's identity as Mark's nephew and a prince of Lyonesse is established, as is his connection to sorrow. The name Tristan, which means sorrow, signifies both the circumstances of his birth and the suffering he will endure for love.
Quote #2
He arrived at the court of his uncle, King Mark, at Tintagel in Cornwall. He concealed his identity, preferring to serve the king on the same footing as the other knights-bachelor. But his prowess and his accomplishments made him stand out above the rest, and he quickly became a favourite of the king's, and was liked and admired by all the courtiers. (1.39)
The knight who conceals his identity upon his arrival at court is a common plot in medieval romance. Often, as is the case here, the concealment occurs because the knight wishes to prove himself independently of his family connections. The knight's superior birth always reveals itself in his excellence, though, revealing the medieval idea that aristocratic background is evident in the character and figure of a person.
Quote #3
Tristan offered to do battle with Morholt; Mark was glad to consent to this. However, the Irish messengers declared that Morholt could not fight against an adversary who was not his equal in birth. Tristan then revealed his identity as a king's son and Mark's nephew. Mark was overjoyed at finding his nephew and tried to dissuade him from the dangerous undertaking; but he could not alter Tristan's decision to fight, and the combat was arranged for a few days' time on the island of St Samson. (1.40)
Tristan reveals his true identity just at the moment that he resolves to serve as Mark's champion against Morholt. This coincidence of events solidifies Tristan's identity as irrevocably linked to this fight: he is the guy who steps up when nobody else will. He will remind Mark of this when Mark believes his barons over Tristan.
Quote #4
One day when Tristan was in the bath Yseut began to clean his sword. She noticed the notch in the blade, and compared it to the splinter taken from Morholt's skull. To her horror the piece fitted perfectly. She advanced angrily on Tristan, brandishing the sword and accusing him of being the slayer of her uncle. (1.43)
It's appropriate that Tristan's sword is the means by which Yseut discovers his true identity, because a knight's sword is such an important part of his life that it often comes to symbolize the knight himself in medieval romance. It's also a symbol of masculinity, so that Yseut's "uncovering" of its truth might represent or foreshadow her recognition of Tristan as a romantic interest.
Quote #5
'Alas, we have much to weep for! Alas, Tristan, noble knight! What a shame that these wretches have had you taken by treachery. Noble, honoured queen, in what land will a king's daughter be born who is your equal?' (4.66)
The Cornish peoples' descriptions of Tristan as noble and Yseut as noble, honored, and peerless, contrast with other characters' characterizations of the barons and the dwarf Frocin as wicked, trouble-making villains. Reputations, well founded or not, are an important part of identity in this story.
Quote #6
'Let him stand on the mound at the end of the plank bridge on this side of Blanche Lande wearing the garments of a leper. He is to carry a wooden drinking-cup tied by a strap to a bottle underneath, with a staff in the other hand. Then let him hear my plan: on the day he is to be seated on the mound; his face will be badly pock-marked. He must hold his cup in front of his face, simply asking for alms from the passers-by.' (14.121)
Since her oath depends upon Tristan's disguise, Yseut is careful to lay out exactly what he should wear and how he should behave. She takes care to make sure that Tristan is well known to everyone as the leper before she even encounters him; this is why she requires him to beg alms from everyone he meets.
Quote #7
'My horse is as white as flour; cover him all over so that he will not be recognized or noticed by anyone. Arthur will be there with all his men and King Mark likewise. The knights from other lands will be jousting to win renown; and for the love of Yseut, I shall make myself a quick sortie. Have the pennant which my love gave me fixed on top of my lance.' (15.128)
Since Tristan is supposed to be in exile, he cannot appear openly at the joust in Cornwall. He has Governal disguise his horse and wait in hiding with his armor so that he can take up the role of knight once his performance as a leper ends. Fixing Yseut's pennant to the top of his lance is Tristan's way of saying that he jousts for her. His identity as a knight is therefore mixed with the identity of his beloved.
Quote #8
Gawain, Arthur's nephew, said to Gerflet:
'Look at those two coming! They are riding very fast. I do not know them. Do you know who they are?' 'I know them well,' replied Gerflet, 'a black horse and a black pennon must belong to the Black Knight of the Mountain. I know the other by his bright arms: there are not many like that in this country. I know beyond doubt they are enchanted!'
[...] Indeed, they thought the two knights were phantoms.
Dressed all in black with their faces covered, Tristan and Governal manage to convince Arthur's knights that they are two other well-known knights, apparently rumored to be enchanted. They mistake them for "phantoms," or ghosts. This characterization of the two men's identities is apt, though, given that in his existence on the outskirts of society, Tristan does indeed resemble a phantom in some ways.
Quote #9
'I could always go to her in secret, or dressed like some pitiable madman. For her sake I am willing to be shaven and shorn if I cannot disguise myself in any other way' [...] He did not want anyone to think he was in his senses and he tore his clothes and scratched his face. He struck any man who crossed his path. He had his fair hair shorn off [...] He walked along looking like a fool and everyone shouted after him and threw stones at his head. Tristan went on without stopping. He walked like this through the land for many days, all for the love of Yseut. (18.153-154)
Tristan's willingness to go about as a madman, or fool, signifies his devotion to Yseut. He is willing to do anything—even change his identity—in order to be with her. Yet since only a few lines earlier, Tristan has declared that his love for Yseut makes him go out of his mind, his disguise is actually an accurate representation of the way his love for Yseut makes him feel.
Quote #10
'Even now, king, there is more to tell. Look me straight in the face: do I not look like Tantris? I have leaped and thrown reeds and balanced sharpened twigs, I have lived on roots in a wood and I have held a queen in my arms.' (18.155)
Ironically, Tristan is only able to tell the truth to his uncle when he is in disguise. Tristan obviously feels enormously liberated by his disguise, going on for pages about his relationship with Yseut. It must be a relief for him to finally be able to admit the truth to the person it most concerns.
Quote #11
'She shall see now the proof that I am telling the truth: when we parted sorrowfully from each other she kissed me and gave me this little gold ring. I have always carried it with me. Many a time I have spoken to it, hoping to be consoled; and when there was no reply I felt I should die of grief. For love I would kiss the emerald, and my eyes would be wet with hot tears.'
Yseut recognized the ring and saw how the dog was nearly mad with joy. Then she knew in her heart that she was speaking to Tristan.
Tristan has repeated all the events of his and Yseut's life together to try to get Yseut to recognize him, but it's only now, when he produces the ring she gave him, that Yseut finally believes him. Her recognition of Tristan depends upon his proof of his devotion to her, which is what he is really revealing when he produces the ring and describes his response to it. Tristan's identity is defined by his feelings for Yseut.