Tragedy in Morte Darthur

The Tragedy of War

One specific passage from Morte Darthur indicates Malory’s attitude about war: “And never since was there never seen a more dolefuller battle in no Christian land, for there was but rushing and riding, foining and striking; and many a grim word was there spoken of either to other, and many a deadly stroke”. This brief remark by the narrator indicates a deep sense of contemplation and remorse about warfare and the affect it has own its participants. Obviously, themes of war, death and revenge are present in Malory’s work and reflect his own time, in which England was divided in the War of the Roses. There are a few incidents of accidental killing that seem to be Malory’s way of expressing the horror of innocent bloodshed and moral devastation of war.

Sir Gawain’s Divided Loyalty

I think that more than any other character in Morte Darthur, Sir Gawain appears to be the one who struggles the most with his loyalty to the crown and his love for his brothers in the knighthood. Sir Gawain is put in the most difficult position possible for a man: he must choose between two of his friends whom he loves. His loyalty is different towards the two—he has obligations to serve King Arthur, but his devotion to Lancelot is by way of their bond through knighthood and honoring the chivalric code. At first, Sir Gawain refuses to admit that Lancelot is sleeping with the queen, but once his brothers are killed he pledges revenge. However, we see that Sir Gawain has all along been struggling to keep Lancelot in his favor when the footnotes mention that at Gawain’s death he repents for insisting that Arthur fight Lancelot and writes a letter to Lancelot asking him to help the king fight against Modred’s attack.

Similarities of the Chivalric Code

The chivalric code honors justice, loyalty, courage, faith, courtesy, humility, piety and nobility. These virtues are clear in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, but they are also preserved in Morte Darthur. Just to highlight a few: a sense of courtesy is seen when Sir Gawain refuses to take part in the burning of Queen Guinevere. Though the custom during that time was to burn adulteresses on the stake, Sir Gawain’s courtesy towards women will not allow him to ethically engage in putting Guinevere to death. We also see courage when Lancelot comes to the queen’s rescue as her knight in shining armor and saves her life. Finally, we see Arthur and Gawain’s attempt at justice for the innocent deaths of Sir Gaheris and Gareth by Lancelot.