The Chivarlric Code of Le Morte d'Arthur

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The Chivarlric Code of Le Morte d'Arthur

Throughout the tales of King Arthur, stories of brave knights and noble lords

captivated the society of the European Middle Ages. These stories gave a criterion for

people to base there values and way of life on. During the 1400's knighthood was coming

to an end. Sir Thomas Malory wanted to recapture the lose of chivalry with his tale "Le

Morte d'Arthur". He wished to inspire people to return to the basic ideals of the chivalric

code. Le Morte d'Arthur presents the importance of possessing the characteristics of

honor, loyalty, and courage.

The most important aspect of the chivalric code is honor. Without honor a man is

believed to be less of a person during the Middle Ages. If you were to loose your honor,

then somehow you, or someone else, must go to any lengths to regain that honor. In Le

Morte d'Arthur, a knight is injured mortally and dies. When the squire of the knight

presents himself before King Arthur he tells Arthur, "he had been attacked by King

Pellinore at the well, and then begged that he should be buried, and that one of Arthur's

knights should avenge his death."(Malory, p.99) The squire knows that the deceased

knight's honor must be returned. A young squire named Gryfflette begs Arthur to make

him a knight so he can avenge the fallen knights honor. Gryfflette's plea to be a knight

goes to show how important it is that a man's honor be intact no matter what the cost may

be.

In being a chivalric, along with possessing honor, you must also have large of

amounts of courage and bravery. Arthur knows Gryfflette is not ready to become a

knight, yet he still allows him to become one because he knows how important it is to

return honor to his dead comrade. Gryfflette leaves in search of King Pellinore and

displays great courage by going and facing a much more seasoned knight such as he. "Sir

Gryfflette struck the shield a ringing blow, and it fell to the ground."(p. 99) Gryfflette

insults King Pellinore by pulling such a brave act as to knock the King's shield from a tree.

Gryfflette is aware of how experienced King Pellinore is, yet he is still very confident in his

words. Sir Gryfflette is very sure of himself and repeats why he is there by confidently

saying, "I come from the court of King Arthur, and still I mean to joust with you.

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