Chivalry is designed to be a code of honor upheld by European knights. It is designed to make them live life the way God would direct them and to treat women with the utmost respect. An ideal example in most people’s minds would be the knights of the round table, but were they really all that chivalrous, and if they were was it for the right reasons? Lanval, Sir Gawain, Lancelot, and Arthur are the men that will be examined to see if the knights of the round table were ever truly chivalrous. Guinevere was used as a symbol for deciding what actions were considered chivalrous and what was considered a disgrace. It is ironic that Guinevere is the standard for chivalry considering that she was responsible for the downfall of the honor of most of
…show more content…
Lanval seemed to be below their notice unless he had something that they wanted or did something they did not like. Lanval is transported to a world where he meets a beautiful woman and he can be hers so long as that he follows her instructions, which are not to tell anyone who she is. Lanval is put in a difficult position since he has kept a promise which he must honor in order to be chivalrous towards the Lady, but Queen Guinevere attempts to begin an affair with Lanval. Lanval does respond at first in the way that he should, by denying her, as she is married to King Arthur, but Guinevere does not accept his refusal. The code of chivalry was not upheld by Guinevere; Guinevere persisted and accused Lanval of being a homosexual and preferring young boys. According to the code of chivalry Lanval should have swallowed his pride and walked away politely. The encounter would have been especially short if Marie De France had not explored this complicated aspect of chivalry, in which Lanval has to choose between his honor and his loyalty to Arthur. Lanval responded by insulting the Queen and telling her that she was nothing compared to the woman he loved. In one moment he broke a core aspect of arthurian chivalry twice, loyalty. Lanval was unable to keep his promise to the lady and tell no one of their relationship and he …show more content…
Sometimes a difficult choice to make since doing what is right and what is expected are very different things. (Chivalry Today) The knights of the round table discover Lancelot’s affair with Guinevere and go to Arthur with the information as they are all charged with being honest, especially towards their king. The men made a choice, perhaps the wrong one since it resulted in most of them losing their lives, but it was a choice that followed their code. King Arthur truly did not want to attack his friend, he was more upset that his friend hurt him than by his wife cheating on him. Arthur refuses to take action unless Lancelot is caught in the act, since he truly does not want to fight him. When Lancelot is caught however he fights back and decides he will gather men to fight Arthur for Guinevere. In this time he kills the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gawain the holdout in the group decides that he must defend the honor and memory of his brother and joins Arthur in the fight against Lancelot. Many believe that Lancelot was the one “good man” as his only perceived sin was his love for Guinevere.(UPenn) This may have been his only sin, but he broke the code of chivalry many times because of his love for
Lanval seemed to be below their notice unless he had something that they wanted or did something they did not like. Lanval is transported to a world where he meets a beautiful woman and he can be hers so long as that he follows her instructions, which are not to tell anyone who she is. Lanval is put in a difficult position since he has kept a promise which he must honor in order to be chivalrous towards the Lady, but Queen Guinevere attempts to begin an affair with Lanval. Lanval does respond at first in the way that he should, by denying her, as she is married to King Arthur, but Guinevere does not accept his refusal. The code of chivalry was not upheld by Guinevere; Guinevere persisted and accused Lanval of being a homosexual and preferring young boys. According to the code of chivalry Lanval should have swallowed his pride and walked away politely. The encounter would have been especially short if Marie De France had not explored this complicated aspect of chivalry, in which Lanval has to choose between his honor and his loyalty to Arthur. Lanval responded by insulting the Queen and telling her that she was nothing compared to the woman he loved. In one moment he broke a core aspect of arthurian chivalry twice, loyalty. Lanval was unable to keep his promise to the lady and tell no one of their relationship and he …show more content…
Sometimes a difficult choice to make since doing what is right and what is expected are very different things. (Chivalry Today) The knights of the round table discover Lancelot’s affair with Guinevere and go to Arthur with the information as they are all charged with being honest, especially towards their king. The men made a choice, perhaps the wrong one since it resulted in most of them losing their lives, but it was a choice that followed their code. King Arthur truly did not want to attack his friend, he was more upset that his friend hurt him than by his wife cheating on him. Arthur refuses to take action unless Lancelot is caught in the act, since he truly does not want to fight him. When Lancelot is caught however he fights back and decides he will gather men to fight Arthur for Guinevere. In this time he kills the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gawain the holdout in the group decides that he must defend the honor and memory of his brother and joins Arthur in the fight against Lancelot. Many believe that Lancelot was the one “good man” as his only perceived sin was his love for Guinevere.(UPenn) This may have been his only sin, but he broke the code of chivalry many times because of his love for