Like in so many other texts we’ve read this semester, in this story, we see a measured, reserved Arthur, particularly in the scene when the knights accuse Guinevere of poisoning the apples. Arthur refuses to judge the matter because he cannot be impartial, so he asks another knight to fight for her honor in a trial by combat. Of course, Lancelot fights for her, but we as the readers know that he is not impartial either. Does this make Arthur appear a worse lover or Lancelot a less honest man? Does the fact that Arthur must put what is best for the kingdom above what is best for Guinevere mean that one cannot be both the best king and the best courtly lover? What do we do with the fact that Lancelot is so flawed (which is continuously pointed out) and Arthur seems to not be?
King Arthur & His World
ENGL 361 | Spring 2019 | Dr. Myra Seaman
We as modern readers think of Lancelot is a very troubled character. However, we see that even when the knights suspect of his affair with Gueneviere he is still declared “the most honourablest knight of the world, and the man of most worship” according to Gawain (190). Also, when Lancelot fights for Gueneviere in disguise he claims that “this is dishonour to you (King Arthur) and to all the knights of the Round Table” so he is still fighting for the King, not just the Queen (173). In the same way, Arthur thinks about making the best decision for his entire kingdom instead of just his queen.
I think this strongly relates to some topics we have discussed before in class. King Arthur always seems to be the background figure and his knights the ones in action, as in this story and many others, and part of the reason I believe that is is because King Arthur is seen as the law itself, with justice and fairness for all. Arthur has the supreme responsibility to manage his kingdom and “must be a rightful judge” (166) in all matters, so he can’t go out on adventures and be like his knights. His knights seem to represent different qualities of King Arthur himself, and Sir Launcelot in this story embodies Arthur’s desire to be a true courtly lover. King Arthur is not in the best position to achieve every aspect of true courtly love. He “may not do battle” (166) even for his wife, yet Launcelot is in the perfect position to defend her honor as all courtly lovers must. Launcelot is continuously flawed because of his all-encompassing love for Queen Guinevere. He even would have “seen as great mysteries” as many other knights had on the quest for the Grail if not for his “privy thoughts to return to [her] love again” (162), and his love for her drives many of his actions.Arthur cannot love her like that because he must put his kingdom first, and therefore is not as reliant on his emotions to make mistakes (and love as much) as Launcelot.
It seems that no, to be a good king and ruler, one would have to sacrifice being a good husband/courtly lover, as Arthur states on 166, “me repenteth of this trouble, but the case is so I may not have ado in this matter, for I mus be a rightful judge…[so] I may not do battle for my wife, for, as I deem, this deed come never by her.” In this passage, he states that, because he is the judge, and also the husband of the accused, he cannot have a say in the matter of Guinevere’s innocence, since it can come off as favoritism or biased. Furthermore, Arthur is continued to be challenged by Sir Mador to do battle, but Arthur, being a fair judge, tells Mador that if a knight shows up (in fifteen days) to honor Guinevere, that “God speed the right,” or if one does not, “then must [the] queen be brent, and there she shall be ready to have her judgement” (167). Despite his wife being accused, Arthur still must make the decision to have her trial, no matter the outcome. He has to be impartial to all parties in his kingdom, otherwise he could come off as a bad ruler, which, as a result, looks bad on his nation.
I agree with Annabel that the frequency with which Lancelot is lauded, in Malory’s text, as the preeminent knight in and outside of Arthur’s court–or the “most noblest knight of the world,” as Sir Bores says (195)–directly challenges our modern assumption that he is lacking in moral or correct conduct. Private and public life are juxtaposed in this text, with the audience receiving much less explicit information about Guinevere and Lancelot’s relationship than we have in previously read texts. I think this is done by Malory because it reflects the historical context he was writing from, but the effect (for me personally, at least) is that we do not receive an example of Lancelot’s wrongdoing except for in an almost second-hand way. An example of this is when Guinevere and Lancelot discuss their relationship and how it is being gossiped about at court: “the boldness of you and me will bring us shame and sclander,” Lancelot says (162). So, we see Lancelot only repenting for his sins and feeling guilty for them, not committing the sins themselves, which makes him seem even more praiseworthy. Meanwhile, as Victoria mentioned in her question, there is very little interaction between Arthur and Guinevere. It seems to me that Arthur represents Guinevere’s public self (and her relationship with Arthur is implicitly tied up in public duty and expectations of the positions of king and queen), while Lancelot represents Guinevere’s private life (and thus we are not shown much of it).
I do think it makes Arthur a worse lover. Arthur does this all the time: he has someone else fight, so he doesn’t have to risk his life. Of course, we understand this is because he is king, and if he does, the whole realm could fall into chaos. However, it’s still a bit of a copout, because whoever fights for Guinevere isn’t actually judging anything. I don’t think it makes Lancelot a less honest man either. Lancelot isn’t going to be judging her guilt or innocence by fighting. The whole concept of a trial by combat is that God will be on the side of the person who is in the right and ensure that they win the fight. It’s divine justice. It doesn’t matter who fights; so long as Guinevere is innocent, the champion will win. God is the judge. As Arthur says on page 167, “there may you do your best and God speed the right.” This is reinforced on page 178, when Lancelot says, “if God give me grace to speed well at the jousts…” Perhaps Arthur feels Lancelot is a better fighter than him and more likely to win and exonerate Guinevere–but that undermines his faith in God, which must not be that strong if he feels the fighter’s prowess is going to influence God.
As far as courtly love, yes, I do think Arthur’s kingship prevents him from being the ideal courtly lover. The Art of Courtly Love makes it clear that your lover should be your first priority, and Arthur’s first priority is always the kingdom. As to to Lancelot’s flaws and Arthur’s perfection, I would argue that according to the Art of Courtly Love, Lancelot is a more perfect lover–and Arthur himself is not so perfect, because he won’t even defend his lady’s honor. As Sir Bors reminds Guinevere on page 168, “when ye have been in right great dangers he hath succoured you.” That “he” should be her husband, Arthur–but it’s Lancelot, and everyone knows it. As he himself says, “I promised her…ever to be her knight in right other in wrong” (175)–and sure enough, he comes to defend her, even though she hurt him by sending him away. When he’s at the tournament, he has the opportunity to kill several knights, like Sir Bors, but he doesn’t–because he loves his friends. Love is Lancelot’s flaw: he loves Guinevere more than honor itself, just as he loves his friends and his king. That makes him a pretty perfect lover in terms of courtly love. Arthur may have less flaws in the eyes of God, but according to the rules of courtly love, he’s a terrible lover! When you say that it “is continously pointed out” that Lancelot is flawed, that may be true in the story of the Grail–but in this story, he is praised very highly by his comrades, such as Arthur, Bors, and Sir Gawain, who calls him “the most honorablest knight of the world, and the man of most worship” (190).