I Saw Guinevere There as Well Essay -- Arthurian Legends Essays

I Saw Guinevere There as WellNumerous sources, such as Layamons Arthurs Dream, Marie de Frances Lanval and Sir doubting Thomas Malorys Morte Darthur, stage Guinevere as a unfaithful wife and the radical cause of the fall of King Arthur and The Round Table. In all of the three works, Guinevere is seen approaching various hands such as Lanval and Sir Lancelot, knights of her husband. And, yet, she remains virtuous and appeal in the eyes of King Arthur, who loves her dearly. Such blindness or possibly Arthurs unconditional love of Guinevere and Lancelot, Arthurs surpass knight, lead to the fall of Arthurs Britain and of the Round Table. In one of her lays, Lanval, Marie de France arranges Guinevere approaching the main character,Lanval, one of Arthurs knights, with a proposition. She offers herself to Lanval to be his mistress, willing to satisfy his sexual joys Lanval, Ive honored you sincerely, devote cherished you and loved you dearly.All my love is at your disposal.Your mist ress I consent to beYou should receive much joy from me (257- 262).Such appearance is clearly unacceptable for a lady in Guineveres position. She does not only compromise herself, but also presents Arthur as a weak man, unable to control his wife, and because a weak ruler. Furthermore, the author of the tale portrays Guinevere as a very wicked character. Angered by Lanvals rejection of her approaches, Guinevere insults Lanval, calling him a homosexual Often I have heard men averThat women argon not what you prefer.But you have many pretty boysWith whom you like to take your joys (273-276).Moreover, Guinevere later manufactures a apologue to tell Arthur, in which the roles are reversed and Lanval is pr... ...Thomas Malory, present Guinevere, Arthurs queen, as one of the causes of the fall of Arthurian empire. Guinevere is described as a wicked and unfaithful wife, whose behavior triggers the fall of her husbands rule. And although other factors, such as peoples green-eyed monst er and evil, influence the outcome of the legendary empire, Guineveres unfaithfulness is the primary cause of the fall of King Arthur and his Round Table. whole kit and caboodle CitedFrance, Marie De. Lanval. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 127-140. Layamon. Arthurs Dream. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 122-124. Malory, Thomas Sir. Morte Darthur. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 421-439. I Saw Guinevere There as Well Essay -- Arthurian Legends EssaysI Saw Guinevere There as WellNumerous sources, such as Layamons Arthurs Dream, Marie de Frances Lanval and Sir Thomas Malorys Morte Darthur, portray Guinevere as a unfaithful wife and the primary cause of the fall of King Arthur and The Round Table. In all of the three works, Guinevere is seen approaching variou s men such as Lanval and Sir Lancelot, knights of her husband. And, yet, she remains virtuous and appealing in the eyes of King Arthur, who loves her dearly. Such blindness or possibly Arthurs unconditional love of Guinevere and Lancelot, Arthurs best knight, lead to the fall of Arthurs Britain and of the Round Table. In one of her lays, Lanval, Marie de France presents Guinevere approaching the main character,Lanval, one of Arthurs knights, with a proposition. She offers herself to Lanval to be his mistress, willing to satisfy his sexual joys Lanval, Ive honored you sincerely, Have cherished you and loved you dearly.All my love is at your disposal.Your mistress I consent to beYou should receive much joy from me (257- 262).Such behavior is clearly unacceptable for a lady in Guineveres position. She does not only compromise herself, but also presents Arthur as a weak man, unable to control his wife, and therefore a weak ruler. Furthermore, the author of the tale portrays Guinevere as a very wicked character. Angered by Lanvals rejection of her approaches, Guinevere insults Lanval, calling him a homosexual Often I have heard men averThat women are not what you prefer.But you have many pretty boysWith whom you like to take your joys (273-276).Moreover, Guinevere later manufactures a story to tell Arthur, in which the roles are reversed and Lanval is pr... ...Thomas Malory, present Guinevere, Arthurs queen, as one of the causes of the fall of Arthurian empire. Guinevere is described as a wicked and unfaithful wife, whose behavior triggers the fall of her husbands rule. And although other factors, such as peoples jealousy and evil, influence the outcome of the legendary empire, Guineveres unfaithfulness is the primary cause of the fall of King Arthur and his Round Table.Works CitedFrance, Marie De. Lanval. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 127-140. Layamon. Arthurs Dream. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 122-124. Malory, Thomas Sir. Morte Darthur. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York W.W.Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 421-439.