Color By Knight: Archetypal and Heraldic Symbolism in “Sir Gareth of Orkney” In the medieval world, magic was not the only thing that could transform a young kitchen boy into a shining prince. Gareth’s transformation in Le Morte Darthur is perpetrated by his own will and mapped through archetypal and heraldic symbolism… with only a little magical interference. For the fine handed kitchen knight of Malory’s “Sir Gareth of Orkney” has to face more than simple knights on his quest; symbolically they are representations of himself, nature, and society that must be overcome through the internalization of their aspects. [this is a good intro, but could be a bit more substantial; I have cleaned up the errors in the paper, which originally received …show more content…
The color gold is interesting from a heraldry interpretation because yellow and gold fall under the same classification of ‘Or,’ meaning “generosity and elevation of the mind” (Fleur-de-lis Designs, screen1). This becomes pertinent later in the tale when Gareth’s chameleon-like escapades in color finally settle: “before he was in many colours, and now he is but in one colour, and that is yellow” (Malory 163). Not only is this an early hint of his final outcome, but it also weaves itself through his character and actions. As his mother describes him, “ever sithen he was grown he was marvelously witted” (Malory 157), directly referring to his secrets within the Arthurian Court. Here not only is Gareth being tested by the world, but he is also testing the world around him to his own standards. In archetypal terms, gold literally represents “self-worth/value” and ultimately the “incorruptible self” (Alyson, screen 2). Taken at this stage, when he has only just begun his trials, perhaps this indicates not only his inherited worth, but his success in the first twelvemonth stage. For it would not represent his earned worth as a knight as he had not yet become one at that point in the story. This is highlighted by his departure from Name