The Impact of Chivalry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte D’Arthur Victoria Leland, San Antonio College (undergrad)
Carol A. Bernard (so who is this?)
This is a live blogging of the session.
chivalry plays an integral role
heavily influenced by chivalry
effect of chivalry can be seen in Arthurian legends
SG agrees to fight the GK, accepts the challenge to preserve Arthur’s life
= chivalry
MD’A focuses on Sir Lancelot. Opens in two knights plotting to reveal.
SL saves Guinevere from death, but kills two of his allies.
All but 4 of Knights of King Arthur are dead.
When chivalry upheld, the court flourishes.
When chivalry is ignored, the court dissipates.
Chivalry introduction…. very basic, but interesting.
Would be a great presentation at a research fair, but I’m not sure how it works here. What are we talking about?
Reads well. Does a good job. Uses the mic. Knows how to pronounce her words. Has a good cadence. Doesn’t hurry, and thus hurt understanding.
Knights must be loyal and courageous.
Must show respect to adversary.
Otherwise chivalry is weak and meaningless.
Both SG and SL are courageous.
Both make mistakes, by neglecting the code of chivalry.
SG confesses to greed and discourtesy.
everyone agreed to wear the green belts after SG’s return.
The source of SG’s fall, it becomes a sign/banner of chivalry.
Does not become haughty when presented with his vices.
Exposes a deep crack in his character.
MDA SG does not agree to join other knights. He won’t join them. When his brothers are killed, he goes “crazy†for revenge.
Loyalty to the court is replaced by his personal love for his family. Quest for vengeance becomes the driving force behind his character. No longer concerned with the kingdom, but only with himself and wanting SL to pay for his brothers’ death. Danger results in the ruin of Camelot.
SL is the golden boy, poster child of chivalric ideals.
At Lancelot’s death his praises are presented by his brother “never matched, … most courteous… truest friend… truest loverâ€
No knight could ever match his ability.
his actions in love are still chivalrous, even though his cuckolding of his friend is not chivalric behavior
Lancelot does everything he can to rescue the queen. Her innocence is in question? Really? Her innocence is in question?
Main duty of knight is to protect the royal family.
He must guard her station, even against the kind.
Keeps his word to come to her rescue.
Lot of gray area, SL picks the lesser of two evils.
Killed Sir Gaheris and Sir Ga…, Gawain’s brothers.
They were not enemies. They were friends and allies of SL.
As a result, SG encourages Arthur to go to war against SL.
dark side of SL
“the best knight in the world and Mallory’s paragon of chivalry†… double adversaries… violent urges generally repressed by the chivalric code
quote from an article, can’t remember who wrote it
attacking an unarmed opponent is against chivalric code
SL breaks the code, kills his allies, and sparks the destruction of Camelot.
SG wants revenge and this leads to the destruction of Camelot.
Arthurian legends, many of social issues are relatable or admonish us to take heed of their mistakes. Paragon for chivalry = the court, Arthur
health of a society is fragile and easily destroyed
individual can bring disaster
core foundation of society
integrity
loyalty
courage
…
When one or more of the individuals place themselves above society, the society is damaged and ultimately destroyed.
conservative values here…