The Last Duel by Eric Jager Essay - 1709 Words

Story of the duel to end all duels In the story The Last Duel by Eric Jager, fourteenth century in medieval France, a knight by the name of Jean de Carrouges challenges a squire, Jacques Le Gris, to a duel. The reason for this trial by combat, a court-ordered duel intended by fate of God to determine the truth, was to seek vengeance for the sake of his own honor. The wife of Jean Carrouges was the young, beautiful, good, sensible, and modest Marguerite. She was expected to maintain a ladylike mannerism and remain loyal to her husband. When the couple traveled to Capomensil to visit Carrouges mother-in-law Marguerite stayed under her watch while Carrouges set out on a journey in desperate need of cash. While away on his journey†¦show more content†¦It wasnt possible for him to succeed in this crime alone, so he had to of had help from someone. His companion in this attack was a squire by the name of Adam Louvel, who Jacques secretly summoned after he learned of Carrouges plan to visit Paris. Louvel served unde r Carrouges in the Cotentin campaign and actually knew him well. Ironically Louvel had a house in Capomesnil, where Marguerite was staying with her mother-in-law. It is very possible that since Le Gris knew Carrouges was leaving on a journey he could have traveled to Capomesnil and stayed with Louvel until his opportunity arose when Nicole de Carrouges left the house for a short amount of time to handle business in Saint-Pierre. This is where my suspicions of Le Gris having everything planned grew because he must have known Nicole was called away to a town six miles away, and accordingly planned and timed when he would enter the home, how long it would take to complete the brutal attack, and enough time to leave and form an alibi. Jacques Le Gris was established as a man who was known for seducing women. It was rumored his approach to Marguerite was an offer of money for sex, but she did not care for his money and wouldnt submit herself to his will. This is when the encounter became physical because Le Gris was going to get what he wanted wether she liked it or not. For a woman, Marguerite fought long and strong, but with the muscle between a man