Betrayal In 'Le Morte Dathur'

Being hurt by any person damages human's feelings, but being hurt by a loved one crushes those feelings completely. Betrayal not only hinders love, but also friendships, families and even kingdoms. Le Morte Dathur, written by Thomas Mallory, makes the theme of betrayal a big factor during the medieval times. Mallory writes specifically on three main couples, which end up betraying a loved one. Both Lancelot and Gueniever betrayed King Arthur, one in marriage and the other in friendship. King Uther betrayed the Duke, by stealing his wife.. Gawain betrayed Sir Pellas by sleeping with the one he loved, Lady Ettard. Betrayal burns like a fire and can start with a single spark, usually caused by love. Marriages are torn apart, friends become enemies, …show more content…
Sir Pellas loved a beautiful woman, lady Ettard. He is so madly in love with her, he said he would never leave her side. “And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but her. But she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said that she would never love him though he would die for her…” (75). Sir Pellas continued to fight for his love and he physically fought. Lady Ettard sent men to hopefully kill Pellas, but he fought them off, hoping to receive her love. Sir Gawain felt terrible for Pellas, especially since Pellas began to grow tired. Gawain promised Pellas that he would help him get Lady Ettard. He wore Pellas’s armor, fighting off the other knights, eventually getting to Lady Ettard’s castle. Ettard thought Sir Pellas died, so she welcomed Gawain and also said she would be his lover. Gawain ended up breaking his promise to Sir Pellas, and slept with Lady Ettard for two days and two nights. He said he loved her and thought there was no other human so fair as she was. Sir pellas, worried about Gawain, rushed over to find Sir Gawain had betrayed him. He laid his sword on their throats and left, heart broken. When Gawain and Lady Ettard woke up, Ettard knew immediately whose sword it was. “ Alas, she said, Sir Gawain, ye have betrayed Sir Pellas and me… but ye have deceived me, that all ladies and damsels may beware by you and me” (79). Gawain promised Sir Pellas to help him receive Lady Ettard’s love, but …show more content…
Lancelot meets a young girl, Elaine, who he later slept with and she became pregnant. The queen heard about this and was so mad, she exiled him. The love of Lancelot and Guenivere would not be separated though. They still kept their secret relationship behinds Arthur’s back. Soon, Lancelot and Guenivere become inseparable and more people start knowing about their relationship. Arthur though, does not want to believe this, so he simply disregards it. “And so they loved together more hotter than they did before hand…” (403). A joust was held, and the queen told Lancelot to wear her favor, in which case he did. The whole town town began talking about Lancelot and Guenver. Arthur’s son mordred, and sir Gawain, hatched a plan to catch the two together. Arthur goes away, so the queen called for Lancelot to come to her chambers, yet he only brought his sword. Knights lined up outside their door, and Guenivere began panicking because she knew she would be burned at the stake. They both knew that it would be hard to escape this, but Lancelot told her she would be safe. “Then he took the Queen in his arms and kissed her…” (472). They exchanged rings to show their love for one another. Lancelot ended up killing all the Knights at the door, battle broke out, and later saved the queen from the stake. Arthur, not that much later, was killed by his son, bringing Camelot down. This affair of Lancelot and Guinevere cause the death of King