Gottfried Von Strassburg makes the story really interesting by making the characters" names according to their positions in the story and their characteristics. There is a pattern to which Strassburg works with. This makes it very simple to understand who stand on which side of the scheme. However there are different patterns as to how the loved ones and the enemies are named due to diverse ways of naming each group. Strassburg makes a great intention by categorizing the characters in the story. Strassburg was very particular in choosing the names of Tristan's fathers, enemies and lovers. The two fathers of Tristan both have similar names, which start with the letter "R". It is also very compelling that Tristan's enemies, Morald, Morgan, Melot, and Menjodoc's names all start with the letter "M". There is also the case of all of Tristan's lovers names are Isolde. I personally like the idea of approaching the name like he does because it helps the audience to know a little bit more about the characteristics of the person as they read and personally it helped me to characterize them by name. .
Tristan has two fathers who are Rivalin, and Ruel. Out of the two one is the biological parent, and the other is the foster parent of Tristan. Ruel, the foster parent of Tristan had taken him for adoption because Rivalin died shortly before Tristan was born. Rivalin was killed in a battle by Morgan, an enemy of Tristan and his father. Both fathers shared the same characteristics of how to deal with certain situations. Rivalin, and Ruel were both ideal and bold, and very good educators. With either parent Tristan could have been as talented as with the other parent, speaking many languages, playing different instruments, and being a good knight as he is. In my opinion Ruel was better father because he loved Tristan, and cared for him like he would for his own son.
Isolde is arranged to marry king Mark, Tristan's uncle who is the king of Cornwall.