Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur (1485) is a monumental compilation of Arthurian legend, blending French romance, English chronicles, and moral allegory. Written during the Wars of the Roses and published posthumously by William Caxton, the work reflects the political instability and chivalric nostalgia of 15th-century England. Malory’s episodic narrative, divided into eight books, chronicles Arthur’s rise, the glory of Camelot, and its tragic collapse. Below, we dissect pivotal sections of the text, pairing summaries with critical analysis.
Key Sections and Critical Analysis
1. The Sword in the Stone (Book I, Chapter V)
Summary:
Young Arthur proves his divine right to rule by withdrawing the sword from an anvil atop a stone, a feat no seasoned knight can achieve. The Archbishop of Canterbury declares, “he is the rightwise king borne of all England.”
Critique:
This iconic scene establishes Arthur’s legitimacy but underscores Malory’s minimal interest in psychological depth. Arthur’s coronation hinges on a miracle, not merit, raising questions about Malory’s view of leadership. The episode’s brevity, typical of Malory’s brisk pacing, leaves Arthur’s character underdeveloped compared to later figures like Lancelot. Critics argue this reflects medieval audiences’ familiarity with Arthurian tropes, though modern readers may crave richer context.
2. The Adultery of Lancelot and Guinevere (Book XVIII, Chapters I–VII)
Summary:
Lancelot and Guinevere’s secret affair unravels when Sir Agravain and Mordred ambush them. Lancelot escapes, slaughtering Agravain and his allies, but Guinevere is sentenced to burn. Arthur laments, “Launcelot hath betrayed me,” torn between love for his queen and duty to justice.
Critique:
Malory’s portrayal of the lovers is paradoxically sympathetic and condemnatory. While he frames their passion as a chivalric “treson” (treason), their emotional turmoil humanises them. However, Guinevere remains a passive figure, defined by male actions, a limitation of medieval gender norms. The scene’s moral ambiguity (Arthur’s harsh judgment vs. Lancelot’s loyalty) epitomises the text’s tension between idealism and flawed humanity.
3. The Quest for the Holy Grail (Book XIII–XVII)
Summary:
The Grail quest, led by Galahad, Percival, and Bors, becomes a spiritual trial. Most knights fail due to sin, but Galahad, a Christ-like “virgin knight”, achieves the Grail, ascending to heaven.
Critique:
This arc shifts from chivalric adventure to religious allegory, disrupting the narrative’s cohesion. Malory’s source material (the French Queste del Saint Graal) emphasises divine grace over earthly heroism, clashing with the earlier focus on martial glory. Galahad’s perfection renders him unrelatable, while Lancelot’s failure, despite his repentance, highlights Malory’s bleak view of human frailty. Critics debate whether this section uplifts or undermines Camelot’s ideals.
4. The Battle of Camlann (Book XXI, Chapters I–IV)
Summary:
Arthur and Mordred’s forces clash in a pyrrhic battle. Mortally wounded, Arthur commands Sir Bedivere to return Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. Bedivere hesitates twice, fearing loss, but finally obeys. Arthur departs for Avalon, leaving his legacy ambiguous: “Herein all the days of my life I may say I was never untrue to thy promise.”
Critique:
The finale’s tragic grandeur is marred by abruptness. Malory rushes through Arthur’s death, offering little reflection on Camelot’s collapse. Bedivere’s hesitation, however, adds poignant humanity, a rare moment of introspection. The legendary “once and future king” epitaph (“Hic iacet Arthurus, rex quondam rexque futurus”) is notably absent in Malory, appearing only in later adaptations like Tennyson’s. This omission underscores Malory’s focus on earthly failure over mythic hope.
Historical Context and Revival
Malory’s work emerged during the twilight of feudalism, as Caxton’s printing press revolutionised literacy. Its posthumous publication coincided with Henry VII’s reign, who claimed Tudor lineage from Arthur to legitimise his rule. The 19th-century Pre-Raphaelites and Tennyson sanitised Malory’s gritty tale into Victorian moralism, while T.H. White’s The Once and Future King (1958) recontextualised Arthur’s reign through the lens of World War II.
Strengths and Weaknesses Revisited
Strengths:
- Cultural Synthesis: Malory’s fusion of French romance (e.g., Chrétien de Troyes) and English chronicles (e.g., Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae) created a uniquely British Arthur.
- Moral Complexity: Characters like Lancelot, flawed yet noble, prefigure modern antiheroes.
Weaknesses:
- Narrative Inconsistency: The Grail quest’s tonal shift and repetitive battles (e.g., Tristram’s meandering subplot) test reader patience.
- Gender Dynamics: Female characters (Guinevere, Morgan le Fay) oscillate between archetypes and plot devices, reflecting medieval misogyny.
Final Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Le Morte d’Arthur is a cornerstone of Western literature, yet its medieval sensibilities demand scholarly engagement. Modern readers should pair it with analyses like Helen Cooper’s The English Romance in Time (2004) to unpack its cultural layers. While flawed, its raw portrayal of ambition, loyalty, and hubris ensures its immortality, a mirror to humanity’s timeless struggles.
Recommended Editions:
- The Winchester Malory (ed. Helen Cooper, 1998) for manuscript authenticity.
- Le Morte d’Arthur: A Modernized Translation (ed. Dorsey Armstrong, 2020) for accessibility.
Legacy in Pop Culture:
- Film: John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981) channels Malory’s fatalism.
- Literature: Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles deconstructs Malory’s mythos with historical realism.
Malory’s Camelot endures not as a utopia, but as a warning: even the noblest dreams can fracture under human weakness.
