What Is The Hero's Journey In Le Morte D Arthur

Thomas Malory was a writer during the 14th century most famously known for writing Le Morte d’ Arthur. It’s said this novel was written while he was in prison, during his third imprisonment. He allegedly raped Joan Smith twice, stole from her husband, destroyed the Duke of Buckingham’s hunting lodge and many other crimes. He was imprisoned for these charges but escaped just two days later by swimming out the moat one night. He was again imprisoned in 1452 and 1468 when he turned to writing, writing Le Morte d’Arthur. Le Morte d'Arthur is a novel which highlights several knights from the middle ages; one such knight was Sir Launcelot du Lake whose story displays motifs of the hero’s journey, rise to power, courtly love, chivalry and the quest
for the holy grail.
The tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake consecutively exhibits motifs of the hero’s journey.
The jaunt begins with Sir Launcelot du Lake’s call to adventure accompanied by his nephew, Sir Lyonel. The story tells of his enterprise to find his kidnapped nephew as well as his trials on the journey home. The Knight fights in a tournament to escape capture from an evil temptress, Morgan le Fay as well as three other queens. After he saves the prisoners of Sir Tarquin, the man who had kidnapped his nephew, new daring threats appear. On his journey home, he kills a thief and rapist, fights the giant who had taken over the Tintagil's castle and imprisoned several young maidens, as well as assisting Sir Kay in the defeat of an attacking knight. It's said Sir Launcelot du Lake was one of the greatest knights in history, proven by Sir Thomas Malory's rendition of the
story.
Sir Launcelot grew to become a puissant knight, trouncing each of his opponents. He is arguably the best knight in history though he was said to be the third most powerful knight in Erec et Enide, by Chrétien de Troyes’, which is the earliest known work to mention Sir Launcelot. He is surpassed by Erec and Gawain. Sir Launcelot is the son of King Ban of Benwick and Queen Elaine. King Ban was an early ally to King Arthur which may have helped Sir Launcelot become part of the roundtable, one of the highest honors a knight could receive. Lancelot's fighting skills were not the result of his father's teaching, as he was exiled from Britain by Claudas de la Deserte and during the journey out of Britain the infant, Sir Launcelot was taken by the Lady of the Lake. It is then when Sir Launcelot receives his surname du lake(or lac). The lady of the lake is pivotal to several Arthurian tales, giving King Arthur Excalibur and enchanting Merlin. The omnipotent Lady of the Lake raises the impotent infant Launcelot and sends him to King Arthur’s court to become the gallant knight he was. Sir Launcelot became on of the strongest most courageous knights of all time.
Courtly love is a major theme in Le Morte d'Arthur. Courtly love is the love between a man and a married woman, in this case, being Launcelot and Queen Gwynevere(Guinevere). Sir Launcelot is one of them most handsome knights and several maidens fall in love with him including the megalomaniacal Morgan le Fay, the sister of King Arthur and famed enchantress, however, Sir Lancelot's love only extends to Guinevere. Leaving Morgan and many other to despond in their unrequited love for the knight. The book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere contains five stories telling of their love. The story of the poisoned apple tells how Lancelot's fights Sir Mador, on the behalf Guinevere how was wrongly accused of poisoning a knight and condemned to burn. Other stories tell of Guinevere’s care for Launcelot, like in The Fair Maid of Astolat, who is yet another women with the unrequited love for him. The Lady of Astolat gave Launcelot her sleeve to wear as a token of her love. He wore it hoping it would help conceal his identity since he had never worn a token before. Word of this betrayal got back to Guinevere and she was furious showing her love for the knight. As a result in The Great Tournament Guinevere makes Sir Launcelot wear her token. The Knight of the Cart shows how the people became aware of their love. They suspected Guinevere was unfaithful to King Arthur after finding blood on the bed, which was from the cut on Sir Launcelot's hand. Which leads to Gawain's brothers to lie in wait of Sir Launcelot in Guinevere’s bedroom. Sir Launcelot and Guinevere’s love for each other is a consistent motif of Le Morte d’Arthur.
Chivalry is a consistent motif throughout Le Morte d’Arthur, especially in Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir Launcelot is loyal to the code of chivalry which is the code of conduct among knights. Acting chivalrously is to act like a nobleman, having traits such as: bravery, courtesy, honor, and respect towards women. Launcelot has repeatedly show acts of honor and bravery throughout his quests and adventures acting modestly about his victories. Launcelot would even refuse prizes won in battle from tournaments. Once even stating “Diamond me no diamonds! For God’s love, a little air! Prize me no prizes, for my prize is death!’ in Idylls of the King page 205. Launcelot often shows modesty for his power. When Sir Kay was being attacked by a knight Sir Launcelot immediately came to his aid. He allowed the wounded Sir Kay to stay with him and in the morning Sir Launcelot took Sir Kays armor and horse so Sir Kay could travel home unharmed in his own. The knight’s armor in the time had specific markings on the shields to enable the people to identify them. Since Sir Launcelot was such a powerful knight no one would challenge him which is why he gave his armor to Sir Kay. Sir Launcelot faced many battles on his journey back to the castle as result of wearing Sir Kay’s armor; which shows his courage. His honor is proven because he never claims the victory for himself but instead gives the credit to Sir Kay. Sir Launcelot du Lake often practiced the now lost art of chivalry.
Reaching the Holy Grail was every knight's dream.
Though many never got the opportunity to go after it. Sir Launcelot, Bors, and Percivale were said to have seen visions of the Holy Grail. Upon discussing these events the King said ". . . if indeed there came a sign from heaven, Blessed are Bors, Lancelot, and Percivale, For these have seen according to their sight. . . .And spake I not truly, O my knights? Was I too dark a prophet when I said To those who went upon the Holy Quest, That most of them would follow wandering fires, Lost in the quagmire? — lost to me and gone. . . .And some among you held that if the King Had seen the sight he would have sworn the vow. Not easily, seeing that the King must guard That which he rules . . .(And) may not wander . . .And knows himself no vision to himself, Nor the high God a vision, nor that One Who rose again. Ye have seen what ye have seen." in Idylls of The King page 205. The King was stating how these men were the blessed among the people for seeing such a vision. My of his knights had searched for the Holy Grail but had failed, they had gotten lost and were never seen again. It’s said Sir Launcelot would never have been able to see this or find the Holy Grail because of his sins. Sir Launcelot along with many other searched for the Holy Grail but it has not been
found.
Sir Launcelot du Lake plays a pivotal part in the history of King Arthur and the round table. The tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake is prosopopoeia of the hero’s journey going on several quests facing trials and tribulations around every corner. He fought in many battles and become one of the greatest knights in history. Maidens everywhere swooned over the handsome knight but his heart belonged to Guinevere. Stories of their courtly love sparked around the kingdom. Chivalry was an important aspect of the knight's life. He lives with high morals and respected the code of Chivalry among the knights. The quest for the Holy Grail was on my knights did not return from even thought Launcelot claimed to see the Holy Grail in a vision from God it was never found. Sir Launcelot was one of the greatest and powerful knights a part of the roundtable and in Le Morte d’Arthur.