Le Morte d’Arthur
Sir Thomas Malory completed Le Morte d’Arthur, the greatest English version of the King Arthur legend, in 1469-70. Regarded as the most extensive and influential telling of Arthurian legend, Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur provided a complete history of the Arthurian world. His text not only celebrated the life of King Arthur and the chivalric ideals of his knights, but also chronicled the tragic collapse of the ideal through disloyalty and treason. Hence, Le Morte d’Arthur can best be understood in terms of Malory’s exploration of themes that are central to not only the concept of chivalry, but are also vital components for appreciating the collapse of that ideal. In particular, the themes of honor, romance, and revenge are key elements of the text which are integrally linked to the ultimate destruction of Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.
The theme of honor is evident throughout Le Morte d’Arthur through the behavior of characters such as Gareth, Tristram, and Galahad whom define the ideal of knightliness. As Cooper notes, “Malory’s Arthurian world operates by the principles of a shame culture, where worth is measured in terms of reputation” (xv). Indeed, in the text the knights are overtly concerned with the way they are viewed and much emphasis is place on those knights who exceed in honorable behavior. Caxton’s Preface to Malory’s work highlights this theme, stating that the text serves as a description of “virtuous deeds…by which [some knights] came to honour” (530). In this way Malory constructs his narrative around the theme of honor, where King Arthur stands as the idyllic example of what a just leader should be, and his knights, in particular Sir Lancelot, serve as the epitome of heroic behavior.
When considering the theme of honor in terms of Lancelot, it is important to note that he is portrayed as being “the most honourable knight of the world, and the man of most worship.” (424). Repeatedly throughout the text, Lancelot’s worth is emphasized, and indeed, it is Lancelot who becomes the measurement by which other knights’ worth is determined and the model to which they strive: “Sir Lancelot du Lake…passed all other knights” (95). Lancelot is the main heroic character of the text; the leader of the fellowship of the Table Round.
Yet even as the shining example of knighthood, Lancelot’s honor is flawed by major faults that demonstrate the failure of honor common to the knighthood. Lancelot demonstrates how in most cases the Knights of the Round Table attempt to receive honor for “vainglory and…pride” (Malory 350), rather than attempting to honor God. In other words, the honor sought by the knights is worldly and thus passing. According to Eugene Vinaver’s analysis “the tragic outcome” of the fall of King Arthur and his knights “is made inevitable by the fatal interplay of human loyalties”. (xi). Their failure is that they are loyal to earthly rewards and seek honor on this plane, and thus are illustrative of how the theme of honor ultimately leads to the destruction of Camelot.
Another theme which is evident in Malory and can also be understood as playing a role in the downfall of Arthur’s kingdom is the theme of romance. Without doubt romance and love is central in Malory’s narrative and he repeats on several occasions “that true love should be faithful and unchanging.” (Cooper xiii). However, this love is complicated by feelings of devotion that are capable of destroying the chivalric ideal. In particular, the love between Lancelot and Guenivere is illustrative of this.
Lancelot is true to his lady Guenivere. His love of her is so intense that he makes a vow to her, promising to be her “knight in right or in wrong.” (Malory 413). Certainly Lancelot fulfills this promise, taking part in battles in defense of Guenivere on three separate occasions, protecting Guenivere even when she has been accused of cheating on Arthur, an offense which she clearly was guilty of doing with Lancelot himself.
Although for much of the narrative Lancelot and Guenivere’s affair is talked about yet ignored, eventually their love directly contributes to the problems in Arthur’s court. Malory tells us that together they loved so hotly that “many in the court spoke of it” finding themselves “unable to ignore their indiscretion any longer” (Malory 403). When Lancelot and Guenivere’s affair is out in the open, the Knights of the Round Table begin to fall apart. Some side with Lancelot, others with Arthur, and a great battle ensues between the King and his most honorable knight. In this light, the love of one woman can be seen as leading to the dissolution of the fellowship of the knights, and therefore it is clear that the theme of love is also to be blamed for the destruction of an ideal.
Very much connected to Malory’s themes of honor and love is the last theme that will be considered: revenge. Without doubt the theme of revenge is evident throughout the text, and it is not uncommon for knights to become enemies in battle seeking revenge for various reasons. For example, the knight Gaheris goes so far as to kill his mother as revenge for her sleeping with Sir Lamorak. Certainly incidents such as this are demonstrative of the fact that the “principles of knightliness are defeated by…desire for revenge” (Cooper xvii), and just as seeking honor for earthly glory and an unhealthy obsession with love helped led to the destruction of the Knights, likewise revenge can be blamed as a main cause in ending Arthur’s reign.
At no time does revenge more clearly led to the destruction of the knightly ideal then during the final days of King Arthur’s reign. In large part, revenge becomes a major aspect of the disintegration of the fellowship because of Lancelot’s action. When Lancelot is caught red-handed with Guenivere events spiral out of control; revenge divides the Knights of the Round Table as the pick sides in the war between King Arthur and Lancelot. King Arthur notes that because of this need for revenge “the noble fellowship of the Round Table is broken for ever” (Malory 478).
Even after the dispute with Lancelot has ended, revenge continues to wreck havoc on what is left of the Knights’ fellowship. This is evident through Mordred, King Arthur’s son who villainously attempts to usurp the throne from Arthur. Mordred himself is seeking revenge against Arthur, and the fellowship is further divided with “many a full noble knight” siding with Mordred “and also to the King”. (Malory 510). Ultimately this final act of revenge results in the supposed death of King Arthur and the destruction of any hope that the Knights of the Round Table will survive.
Overall, Le Morte d’Arthur can be seen as a “mournful lament for a lost age of chivalry” (Bethune 42). Through the themes of honor, love, and revenge Malory exposes the causes of the ultimate failure of the chivalric ideal. In a large sense Malory seems to “be implying that chivalry, kingship, and nobility ‘can no longer be trusted’” (Kelly 427). By seeking honor to gain worldly glory, forsaking others because of the love of one woman, and by putting revenge above all else, King Arthur’s court finds that the very ideals that have sustained it have also led to its demise.
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