Malory's Morte D Arthur: Sword In The Stone Extract
The importance of certain cultural values and way people though during the time is reflected in Malory’s Morte d’Arthur: Sword in the Stone extract. The representation of kingship and its importance in medieval England is shown through both the divine right of kings and the dominant region of the time, Christianity and its traditions and value. These two factors of Medieval England life is what influenced politics and leadership of the feudal society of this time.
15th Century English society based their feudal system of a monarchy on the belief that the king was selected by God. This is the concept of the divine right of kings and that land would be in chaos and turmoil if the rightful king or blood line were not on the throne. This is the
current state in Morte d’Arthur: Sword in the Stone chapter where currently Excalibur, past king Uther Pendragon’s sword sits in the stone awaiting to be removed by the next rightful king. “Whoso Pulleth oute this swerd of this stone and anvyld is rightways kynge borne of all En(g)lond.” When young Arthur a small, feeble looking boy effortlessly extracts the sword, the people who majority are commoners call for Arthur to be king, after much brawlier looking and higher knights, who are much higher than Arthur in the feudal system, try and fail to pull Excalibur from the stone. Even though the people can see Arthur is only young and both not trained as a knight or from a prestigious bloodline, automatically he is sanctified king as only the right and truthful king could have had the strength within to pull the sword and thus the power to restore the land to greatness and peace again. This way of thinking saw young Arthur step into the role of the true king of England, who was indeed chosen by God.
Christian values and customs had overtaken the Celtic traditions in England, well before the 15th Century. This meant that these new religious ceremonies, holidays and ways dominated the time period’s society and way of life. In Morte d’Arthur: Sword and the Stone extract we witness this. Knights and barons of higher bloodline and strength than Arthur want to challenge him to pull the sword out for belief he cannot be the real king, and all these challenges are taken place on Christian holidays. “…Arthur dyd at Cristmasse he dyd at Chandelmasse,…so he dyd at Eester…” At these challenges for the Arthur’s right as king, extensive Masses and other Christian ceremonies were held for the celebration of the holiday. The significance of these holidays show how important they were to the people of the time, and how other major events were planned around them. These challenges were also held during these holidays as the king was chosen by God, so the importance of the religious holiday would perhaps oversee the declaration of the rightful king if another knight were to succeed. Religion directed the people of this time lives and was seen as the norm and way of life, anything else was shunned upon and rejected out of society. Malory emphasises this by setting Arthur’s victories on significant Christian holidays to reflect the ways of thinking and cultural values in medieval England.
Malory’s representation of kingship reflects the belief of the divine right of kings and the Christian beliefs and traditions, which were the cultural values of the time. He has shown the significance of kingship through these values and their importance in Medieval England.
15th Century English society based their feudal system of a monarchy on the belief that the king was selected by God. This is the concept of the divine right of kings and that land would be in chaos and turmoil if the rightful king or blood line were not on the throne. This is the
current state in Morte d’Arthur: Sword in the Stone chapter where currently Excalibur, past king Uther Pendragon’s sword sits in the stone awaiting to be removed by the next rightful king. “Whoso Pulleth oute this swerd of this stone and anvyld is rightways kynge borne of all En(g)lond.” When young Arthur a small, feeble looking boy effortlessly extracts the sword, the people who majority are commoners call for Arthur to be king, after much brawlier looking and higher knights, who are much higher than Arthur in the feudal system, try and fail to pull Excalibur from the stone. Even though the people can see Arthur is only young and both not trained as a knight or from a prestigious bloodline, automatically he is sanctified king as only the right and truthful king could have had the strength within to pull the sword and thus the power to restore the land to greatness and peace again. This way of thinking saw young Arthur step into the role of the true king of England, who was indeed chosen by God.
Christian values and customs had overtaken the Celtic traditions in England, well before the 15th Century. This meant that these new religious ceremonies, holidays and ways dominated the time period’s society and way of life. In Morte d’Arthur: Sword and the Stone extract we witness this. Knights and barons of higher bloodline and strength than Arthur want to challenge him to pull the sword out for belief he cannot be the real king, and all these challenges are taken place on Christian holidays. “…Arthur dyd at Cristmasse he dyd at Chandelmasse,…so he dyd at Eester…” At these challenges for the Arthur’s right as king, extensive Masses and other Christian ceremonies were held for the celebration of the holiday. The significance of these holidays show how important they were to the people of the time, and how other major events were planned around them. These challenges were also held during these holidays as the king was chosen by God, so the importance of the religious holiday would perhaps oversee the declaration of the rightful king if another knight were to succeed. Religion directed the people of this time lives and was seen as the norm and way of life, anything else was shunned upon and rejected out of society. Malory emphasises this by setting Arthur’s victories on significant Christian holidays to reflect the ways of thinking and cultural values in medieval England.
Malory’s representation of kingship reflects the belief of the divine right of kings and the Christian beliefs and traditions, which were the cultural values of the time. He has shown the significance of kingship through these values and their importance in Medieval England.