The Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love

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Recommended: King Arthur's courtly love in medieval literature

The Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love

Two conflicting disciplines are prevalent throughout Arthurian Legend; that of chivalry and that of courtly love. The ideal of each clash throughout the medieval tales, and it is impossible to interfuse the two models for society. Chivalry is a masculine code, an aggressive discipline, whereas courtly love is based upon women - their needs, wants, and desires. The consistent problem if Lancelot and Guinevere’s adulterous relationship in different tellings of the affair relates back to the differences presented in chivalric code and courtly love ideals.

The chivalric code speaks of "brave conquerors" waging war against the Seven deadly Sins(Schofield 5). The knight places all thought of others before himself, promising to serve and protect, swearing to honor all, and love a life of nobleness, selflessness, in subjection to the king. In Malory, the code of honor by which the knights live as dictated by the king is,

Never to outrage, or murder, always flee treason, also by no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy; also to do to ladies, damsels, and gentle women succour upon pain of death – also, no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law for the world’s goods(Schofield 96).

This allegiance the men pledge to one another is a bond, similar to the vows taken when one weds. Anyone breaching this honor code is guilty of a treacherous act against not only the king, but his fellow knights as well. There is a constant struggle to stay within the confines of what is allowed through one’s actions, and to abide by the Golden Rule. "Knighthood is masculine, aggressive; a battle with rules and limits, in which courtesy is a matter of do as you wo...

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...arlots. The sex drive of a man is viewed as "natural desire", wherein women it is an abominable quality. In theory, courtly love remains utopian, but its application to society is where it fails, and where Guinevere fails as well. Medieval thinking insists that women are the only guilty party in adulterous affairs, yet in theory that is all that courtly love is.

The ideas of chivalry, the code of courtly love. The reality is that neither works in the presence of the other, yet neither would exist without the other either. Chivalry and its aggressive code satisfies a man’s drives and desires, while courtly love fulfills a woman’s expectations. Lancelot and Guinevere are not doomed do to either one, but to both. Lancelot breaks his manly honor code, and Guinevere commits adultery. They have failed at the best of both worlds, and in turn the mystical Camelot falls.

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