The concept of loyalty is strongly related to the concept of knighthood. The image of the Knights of the Round Table can hardly be imagined without thinking of the loyalty amongst those knights. In “The Morte Darthur,” the loyalty that has been established between the Knights of the Round Table is shattered when loyalties are pledged to single knights instead of the whole group. Throughout “The Morte Darthur,” themes of loyalty are very apparent and can be seen in stark contrast to the themes and acts of betrayal and revenge. Although the affair between Queen Guinevere and Lancelot has been suspected by King Arthur for quite a long time, the King has chosen to ignore this act of adultery, as Lancelot is one of his most loyal and able knights.
…show more content…
Here, Gawain comments, “I am sorry for the death of my brother and of my two sons, but they are the causers of their own death” (111). In this moment, he is in disagreement with the king. The king wishes to punish Lancelot and his wife. He wants to have Guinevere burned at the stake for her adulterous acts. As Gawain is loyal to Lancelot, he must also be loyal to Guinevere. Gawain rejects the king’s request to prepare the Queen for her death saying, “Nay, my most noble king. That I will never do” …show more content…
Not only is Gawain shocked to hear this news, he is outraged. Gawain cannot believe that Lancelot would kill Gareth, as “my brother loved him better than me and all his brethren and the king both” (114). In this moment, Gawain’s loyalty quickly shifts from Lancelot to Gareth. At this point in the story, revenge accompanies the themes of loyalty and betrayal. Gawain pledges that he will avenge the death of Gareth when he says, “I shall never fail sir Lancelot until that one of us have slain the other…for the death of my brother, Sir Gareth, I shall seek Lancelot throughout seven king’s realms, but I shall slay him, other else he shall slay me” (115). Gawain pledges his life and his loyalty to Gareth when he declares to Lancelot, “And all the while that I may live be thine enemy” (118). Unlike Lancelot’s unwavering loyalty to the Queen, Gawain’s seemingly unbreakable loyalty to Lancelot was easily malleable once Lancelot betrayed Gareth. Like Gawain, King Arthur also announces his promise to take revenge. His love of Lancelot quickly turns into hatred when Arthur proclaims, “I am thy mortal foe and ever will to my death-day, for thou hast slain my good knights and full noble men of my blood, that shall I never recover again. Also, thou hast lain by my queen and holden her many winters, and sithen, like a traitor, taken her away from me by force”
Here, Gawain comments, “I am sorry for the death of my brother and of my two sons, but they are the causers of their own death” (111). In this moment, he is in disagreement with the king. The king wishes to punish Lancelot and his wife. He wants to have Guinevere burned at the stake for her adulterous acts. As Gawain is loyal to Lancelot, he must also be loyal to Guinevere. Gawain rejects the king’s request to prepare the Queen for her death saying, “Nay, my most noble king. That I will never do” …show more content…
Not only is Gawain shocked to hear this news, he is outraged. Gawain cannot believe that Lancelot would kill Gareth, as “my brother loved him better than me and all his brethren and the king both” (114). In this moment, Gawain’s loyalty quickly shifts from Lancelot to Gareth. At this point in the story, revenge accompanies the themes of loyalty and betrayal. Gawain pledges that he will avenge the death of Gareth when he says, “I shall never fail sir Lancelot until that one of us have slain the other…for the death of my brother, Sir Gareth, I shall seek Lancelot throughout seven king’s realms, but I shall slay him, other else he shall slay me” (115). Gawain pledges his life and his loyalty to Gareth when he declares to Lancelot, “And all the while that I may live be thine enemy” (118). Unlike Lancelot’s unwavering loyalty to the Queen, Gawain’s seemingly unbreakable loyalty to Lancelot was easily malleable once Lancelot betrayed Gareth. Like Gawain, King Arthur also announces his promise to take revenge. His love of Lancelot quickly turns into hatred when Arthur proclaims, “I am thy mortal foe and ever will to my death-day, for thou hast slain my good knights and full noble men of my blood, that shall I never recover again. Also, thou hast lain by my queen and holden her many winters, and sithen, like a traitor, taken her away from me by force”