Taking a break from assignments...I shall copy and paste this into word later as for some reason I cannot write in word and paste onto here - a right pain that is I can tell ya!
Anyways,
So...Malory...Sir Thomas no less. An obscure character...little known about him. Suggestion he was Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire. A man who lived at the time of the Wars of the Roses. His book is all about the Knights of the Round Table and their adventures in seeking the Holy Grail.
Arthurian tales have come back to us via the French but originally and arguably from the Welsh Tales of the Four Branches of the Mabinogion, ably helped along by that most interesting man, Geoffrey of Monmouth...who, despite being a Churchman and of mixed Norman and Welsh descent, saw no problem in shying away from or embellishing the truth somewhat. That's another story. I mention the fact that he was a Norman purely out of academic curiosity. Most of the Arthurian legends are credited to Chretien de Troyes, a Frenchman of the courts of Aquitaine. He and Geoffrey lived at the same period...so did Geoffrey give Chretien ideas on Arthur or was it the other way around? Anyway...
Malory's book tries to put together all the myths of Arthur into some semblence of order...this means he spoke French...as most sources on Arthur at that time - apart from Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl Poet - were in French. Yet Thomas Malory is believed to have been a prisoner...possibly because he backed the wrong colour rose!...he was an alleged rapist, cattle thief, extortionist and vandal. Hardly the sort of person you would credit with a strong belief in chivalry really then.
Is Morte D'Arthur a reflection on the demise of chivalry apparent in his day? Is it a longing for the past and a resurrection of the true meaning of knighthood? Is the Holy Grail an allegory for true love? There was certainly no shortage of romance literature in the medieval period. Marriages were business and courtly love was an almost sanctioned form of adultery. Everyone knew it went on and turned a blind eye. Yet courtly love is exactly what gave rise to the whole concept of chivalry in the first place.
So, it is difficult to reconcile this book and its subject matter to a felon accused of all the above heinous acts. It has a high moral tone on the conduct of all the Knights of the Round Table and it is liberally peppered with references to courtly love, culminating in the downfall of Camelot throug the alledged adulterous behaviour of Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot. Yet, was this the real downfall? Arthur was told of the alleged affairs by Sir Aggravaine and Mordred. Now, Mordred is a very interesting character. It is alleged that Mordred was in actual fact Arthur's incestuously conceived son on his sister Morgana le Fey. Right, well THAT would really make him a great candidate for knightly kingship. If this is true, you can at least understand that Mordred would be perfectly within his rights to be a tad pissed off about that. Particularly, as he was unacknowledged as heir by a man who did not have a legitimate heir to succeed him.
That clears up nicely his reason then for going tittle tattling to Arthur about his wife's courtly love affair with the handsome and chivalrous Lance. Arthur of course already knew about it...he would have had to be BLIND not to! So, sticking to the letter of the law, he told the gossiping men that he would have to have proof before he did anything about it. Off they go then to try and trap Lance and Gwen. They didn't manage to catch them in the act but Lance was in her company and that was enough for them. Back they go to Arthur, leaving other knights to apprehend Lance, a man with a fearsome reputation who then dispatches them all and disappears into the distance, no doubt out through an arrow slit and down crenellated walls. Okay, this then leaves Gwen to the mercy of Arthur who, in the face of such continued opposition, has no choice but to order her tied to a stake and burnt (she wasn't a witch, so I'm not sure why this particular punishment was chosen!) On the Burning Day along comes Lance and rescues her (but of course!), slaying in the process two unarmed knights, brothers of Sir Gawain who had always told Arthur that no good would come of this performance. Understandably he is put out by this killing of the rest of his family and swears that he will not rest until Lance is 6ft under.
Lance, gallops off into the distance, no doubt on his white charger and in full battle armour with the queen thrown unceremoniously over his saddle pommel. He takes her to his castle. Arthur meantime is being advised to stop this bloody nonsense and go get his queen back. He sheepishly agrees to this and sends an envoy to Lance asking very nicely, could he have his wife back now please. Lance still the chivalrous chappie agrees and hands her over at Arthur's court. This has not gone down well with either Mordred or Gawain. When Lance leaves to return to his castle Arthur is persuaded to go after him as he has committed a slur upon the king's person by having it away with his wife! Arthur stupidly agrees to this and he and the troublemakers trundle off to Joyous Guard (Lance's no doubt little pad!) and Gawain demands he fights with him, which Lance doesn't want to do because of their long term friendship...this goes on for a while with the protagonists going...oh yes you will, oh no I wont etc. Anyway, enough insults later, Lance agrees and flattens Gawain...Gawain goes off to lick his wounds and then comes back for more...Lance repeats the flattening and Gawain takes longer to heal this time. Meanwhile, Mordred is sticking his poison in whatever ears are listening and ultimately this culminates in the final battle between Mordred and his dad...in full view of an agog audience...both are struck mortal blows...Excalibur gets lied about three times and then eventually gets chucked in the river...hand grab and manic laughter (apparently!). Happy that Excalibur has returned home, Arthur breathes his last and is collected by Morgana le Fey to Isle of Avalon, where he will once again rise when he is in need. Distraught at the death of Arthur, Gwen gets herself to a nunnery and Lance goes all celibate on us at a monastery. The castle is named Dolourous Guard in honour of these events. The End.
It is the writer's 'umble opinion that this does not show Arthur in a particularly good light...incestuous rapist, weak and easily led. Cracking choice to rule Britain. In fairness Malory says that Arthur was a great fighter and a fair man...so, more brawn than brains then? The Morte D'Arthur as a compilation is great and Malory has done a fantastic job at putting all the random Arthur stories into some semblence of order but really...makes you wonder why everyone thought Arthur was so great.
So...why did Malory write about Arthur, chivalry and courtly love? Yes, that is indeed the question.
Answers anyone?
