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Le Morte D’Arthur

In Le Morte D’Arthur Sir Thomas Mallory introduces women in a narrow spectrum and often opposite of roles. Ranging from the chaste to the wild, from the obedient to the deadly. In this book it becomes obvious that we can place the majority of the women into three categories. Courtly lovers, temptresses, and obedient servants. Women are often portrayed as being the main instigators for the greatest victories and the biggest downfalls.
The one theme that is rarely prevalent in Le Morte D’Arthur is courtly love. Which is the purest and is perceived to be the most virtuous of women’s traits. The love shared between Iseult and Sir Tristram could very well be characterized as courtly love. Although Iseult is obliged to marry King Mark, she is already genuinely in love with Sir Tristram. “She undergoes many hazards in the course of her love for Sir Tristram before rescuing him from prison and taking refuge with him Sir Launcelots castle, the Joyous Gard.”
Whenever a knight...

Posted by: Shelia Olander

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