ipl-logo

Chivalry: Virtue Of A Knight In The Middle Ages

795 Words4 Pages

Saniyah Byrd
Mr. Jimenez
Period 2E
February 6, 2023

Arthurian Legends Essay

In the Middle Ages of Europe, the virtues of a “perfect” knight consisted of being piety, benevolent, merciful and significantly more. The most important virtue of a knight in this era was chivalry. Chivalry is defined in this context as a system the knights were in accordance with which put the behavior of courage, honor, and loyalty on a high pedestal. It’s also known as the Code of Chivalry that all the knights were expected to follow. Sir Lancelot du Lac lived up to the standards of chivalry and the “perfect” knight. He is even considered the best knight in Arthurian romance. This claim is highly debated because Lancelot committed adultery with Queen Guinevere, …show more content…

As he was described, “Lancelot was the First Knight of the Round Table, and he never failed in gentleness, courtesy, or courage. In addition to his courage and prowess on the battlefield, Lancelot was also a knight who was consistently serving others, thus giving him a good name and favor among most circles.” (King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table). It was only a matter of time before his reputation came crashing down. Lancelot fell in love with Arthur’s wife Gunievere and she reciprocated the same feelings for him gradually. Their love story was bittersweet and lasted horribly. Queen Guinevere could not resist his advances and they evolved to lovers. Obviously this is forbidden and adultery was against the Code of Chivalry in Lancelot’s case. Despite this taboo affair, Lancelot and Guinevere continued with rumors about them brewing. The other knights of the Round Table grew suspicious and the lovers were caught, revealing the secret. As a result of this, Guinevere was seized and condemned to burning to death for her unfaithfulness to King Arthur. Lancelot was later banished and he declared “…I shall depart with no worship, for a fleamed man departeth never out of a realm with no worship” (Malory 190). A perfect knight would not have enticed an affair with the king’s wife and it's forbidden by the Code of

Show More
Related

Lancelot's Compromised Morality

1752 Words | 8 Pages

Lancelot has met chivalric standards of behavior through technicalities – he technically is defending the queen’s honor against an technically untrue accusation. But a lie of omission is still a lie; Lancelot’s equivocal oath only serves to compromise his integrity, and his immorality makes a mockery of his further appeal to God. Not only is Lancelot committing the sin of adultery by sleeping with another man’s wife, he is committing it against his king, to whom he should owe fidelity above anyone else. Although a common trope in chivalric romance is the concept that the transforming power of love makes a knight into a better person, Chretien’s narrative twists that to illustrate that Lancelot’s love has arguably made him a worse

Read More

The Role Of Sir Launcelot In King Arthur's Knights Of The Round Table

475 Words | 2 Pages

Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere have been sleeping together this makes both him and the queen unloyal to King Arthur. Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere’s sin could have had them both killed for adultery. Sir Launcelot made it his very priority to protect the queen.

Read More

Sir Lancelot In Jerry Zucker's First Knight

1420 Words | 6 Pages

In a more accurate depiction of Arthurian lore, Lancelot's individualist qualities and nomadic background would have been down played and his purely chivalric nature would have played up. There is one film, however, that does look to portray chivalry is a more historical light than First Knight and King

Read More

Guinevere In John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes Of Wrath'

527 Words | 3 Pages

Each frantic heartbeat at the walls of ribs trying to get to the other until their held breaths burst out…” (Steinbeck 28). Given that Guinevere and King Arthur are married and she and one of his knights, Lancelot, are in love without King Arthur knowing, makes her a “whore”. Lancelot cries right after they kiss and King Arthur will be angry if he finds out what happened. Guinevere is now in a big mess between these two men, but this would not have happened if she stayed loyal to her husband and ignored her feelings towards

Read More

Lancelot And Gawain In Sir Thomas Malory's Morte D Arthur

205 Words | 1 Pages

Compared to Gawain, Lancelot is easily influenced by his emotions. Another example is when Lancelot asks Guinevere for a kiss after she told him she was becoming a nun. He disrespected her wish to leave her past behind and had the audacity to ask for something so selfish.

Read More

Examples Of Chivalry In Excalibur

898 Words | 4 Pages

Lancelot shows chivalry at this point by honoring Arthur as the winner of the dual. Lancelot pledges his allegiance to Arthur for his victory. Lancelot obviously embodies chivalry through his value of honor and

Read More

Sir Lancelot Research Paper

602 Words | 3 Pages

So the Lady of the Lake decides to send him to be apart in King Arthurs court under Sir Gawain. For a very long time Lancelot has been trying to prove to King Arthur that he is the greatest knight, and all of his time to prove to King Arthur that he is the best knight of them all he spends a lot of time at the castle and he always saw King Arthur’s wife Guinevere, an he starts to fall deeply in love with her. Like most romances in this time is forms very slowly, it was also very hard because Guinevere is still married to King Arthur. Although it was taking Guinevere quit a bit of time to warm up to Lancelot and fall deeply in love with him. Guinevere does not at first respond to Lancelots advances, but eventually gives in to his request.

Read More

What Is Sir Lancelot's Code Of Chivalry

416 Words | 2 Pages

There are a few codes of chivalry that he breaks because of Gwynevere. In a way he betrays King Arthur by staying as a guest in the palace knowing he will be able to be around Gwynevere and possibly tempt her. Lancelot’s only motivation to become a knight is Gwynevere and to still remain in Camalot. Even though he is a strong Knight that saves people, his weakens is a very small but powerful thing called love/

Read More

The Hero's Journey In Lanval By Marie De France

452 Words | 2 Pages

When he spurns her love, refusing to betray his King, the Lady goads him into breaking the one rule given to him by Queen Semiramis, lest he never see his beloved again. Lanval announces to Arthur’s Queen “any one of those who serve her / the poorest girl of all / is better than you, my lady queen,”(298-300). This upset the Lady who complained to King Arthur, claiming that Lanval dishonored her, and the king was angered and “he swore an oath / if Lanval could not defend himself in court / he would have him burned or hanged” (326-28). By standing by his boast as truth, and through the efforts of Queen Semiramis, Lanval overcame the Supreme Ordeal of the trial by his King and as a reward “He was set free by their decision” (629). From there Lanval left the court to await his Queen on a marble stone and “When the girl came through the gate / Lanval leapt, in one bound / onto the palfrey, behind her.”

Read More

Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

1052 Words | 5 Pages

During the Medieval times chivalry was one of the most important characteristics a knight could display. Chivalry was viewed as a moral obligation that involved bravery, honor, respect, and gallantry. Knights were expected to uphold this code or face social consequences for any infractions, with punishments ranging from humiliation to termination of their knighthood. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” presents the struggles knights faced with honoring the chivalrous code at all times. Sir Gawain, while imperfect, exhibits qualities expected of knights and embodies the internal struggle between honoring the chivalrous code and giving into selfish desires.

Read More

Sir Lancelot Du Lake Character Analysis

490 Words | 2 Pages

Steinbeck’s story is unique because he is very descriptive in his writing and he pays attention to fine detail. Steinbeck portrayed Lancelot as unloyal, “ Their bodies locked together..their mouths met”(Steinbeck pg.1035 ) he kissed Guinevere, the King’s wife. Also, he portrays him by deceiving, “Lancelot knelt down and took the king’s beloved hand in both of his and kissed it… ”

Read More

Examples Of Chivalry In King Arthur

974 Words | 4 Pages

The Arthurian Code of Chivalry is composed of four major aspects: nobility, humility, bravery, and obedience. Throughout the tales of King Arthur, it is evident that in order to be a knight you must display nobelity. Arthur said “I

Read More

The Once And Future King By T. H. White

744 Words | 3 Pages

Lancelot’s affair with Guenever leads to the downfall of Camelot and the death of many of Arthur’s knights. White uses this example to illustrate the danger of allowing personal desirse to cloud one’s judgment. Lancelot’s lack of wisdom and compassion ultimately leads to his own downfall, as well as the downfall of those around him. In contrast, the author depicts King Arthur as a wise and compassionate leader.

Read More

Le Morte D Arthur And Lancelot Analysis

853 Words | 4 Pages

Reaffirming the aforementioned idea that Lancelot is the greatest knight in Camelot. The relationship between Lancelot and Guinevere is mentioned in the writing; however, it is only briefly discussed potentially meaning that Malory did not want to tarnish Lancelot’s reputation. Throughout Malory describing what happened between Lancelot and Guinevere it seems like Malory is defending Lancelot’s actions. A possible reason that Malory does this is to protect Lancelot’s image

Read More

Essay On The Bedtrick Trope In Le Morte Darthur

1389 Words | 6 Pages

Lancelot promptly discovers he has been deceived and steps his sword back and calls her a "traitress"(284), while Igraine discovers six months after the fact that it was Uther that has deceived her and reacts with satisfaction and serenity. In any case, they have the same disgrace on various levels be that as it may while Igraine's disgrace depends on ensuring her ethics Lancelot's depends on Courtly love which obliges him to dependably please Guinevere. Despite the fact that he was deceived into laying down with Elaine, he has still sold out Guinevere. While Uther does not have to defend his reasons for tricking Igraine Elaine must. She proclaims “slay me not; for I have in my womb begotten of thee that shall be the most noblest knight of the world” ().

Read More

More about Chivalry: Virtue Of A Knight In The Middle Ages

Related Topics

Open Document