Devotion
Erec is a devoted man, with much integrity. When he meets and marries Enide, his challenge becomes balancing priorities in order to divide his devotion between wife and king. He is first and foremost a knight, but he often does Enide a disservice in valuing his knightly responsibilities above her trust and intimacy. Over the course of their joint quest, Erec proves his devotion to Enide and to King Arthur by accomplishing great feats, all the while protecting her. In the end, Enide is the one who states how astonished she is by his devotion, pledging her renewed love to him. With Enide's support, Erec is able to realize his full potential, and they become rules of Nantes.
Honor
As a knight, Erec's tale revolves closely around the concept of honor. His first introduction is defending Queen Guinevere's honor and then his own against Yder. Even upon competing with Yder, Erec chooses to defend Enide's natural beauty against those who would slander her out of jealousy or contempt. After marrying Enide, Erec's quest becomes one of defending his honor as a knight, which prompts him to embark on a dramatic quest with his wife by his side. He's attempting to write his own story, to challenge previously held expectations of what a knight can reasonably accomplish. In the end he earns for himself the utmost of honor simply by convincing Enide of his undying devotion to her.
Transformation through Love
Enide's part of the story reflects the powerful theme of transformation through love. When she is first introduced, she's a pauper, her beauty hidden by dirt and rags. Erec has the strength to discern her value despite the contradictory wrappings. He brings her back to Arthur's court, where his insistence on her beauty convinces the entire court and especially Queen Guinevere that she is a lady. Guinevere believes and consequently blesses Enide with beautiful new clothes and a physical transformation. This is the first step -- Enide's transformation. She then returns the favor by believing in Erec. Her faithful love and long-suffering attitude eventually convince him that he is indeed worthy of the utmost love. He believes in himself after witnessing her profound belief in and love for him. She accomplishes a transformation for Erec, complimenting the way he transformed her life by believing in her upon their introduction.
Contest
The kingdom of Arthur exists in a culture of honor. In order to settle conflicts or earn honor citizens must compete in formal events. As a knight, Erec competes in several competitions, from archery to swordplay. The stakes vary, but Erec proves himself by behaving as if he is always defending his honor. He even competes for Enide -- a stranger's -- honor in the first quarter of the poem.
