![]() Finally, when Charlemayn comes upon Roland’s body and emotionally mourns him-leading the entire army in a shared outpouring of grief-the scene reinforces Roland’s status not merely as the Emperor’s beloved nephew, but as a warrior whose like will not be seen again. ![]() When Roland finally lays down to die, the very arrangement of his body indicates that he is a conquering, Christian warrior: “He’s turned his head to where the Paynims are, / And this he doth for the French and for Charles, / His right-hand glove he unto God extends / Angels from Heaven now to his side descend.” Roland is simultaneously a war hero and an exemplar of piety-a combination that epitomized medieval chivalry. The treatment of Roland’s death further reinforces the poet’s opinion of him as a champion. This is because Charlemayn gave Durendal to Roland, and with Durendal, Roland won many victories on Charlemayn’s behalf: “What lands and countries I’ve conquered by its aid, / For Charles to keep whose beard is white as may! / Now am I grieved and troubled for my blade / Should Paynims get it, ‘twere worse than all death’s pains.” Durendal is a symbolic extension of Roland’s own honor, and as a true knight, Roland is concerned with leaving an honorable legacy after his death by keeping his sword untainted by his enemies. When, later in the battle, Roland realizes he is on the verge of death, he mourns over his sword, lest it fall into the pagans’ hands and its honor be stained in use against the French. Roland’s faithfulness to his lord and uncle, Charlemayn, is also illustrated by his faithfulness to his sword, Durendal. This scene also suggests that he takes responsibility for not doing more to ensure his comrades’ survival earlier-even if this humility is displayed too late, it’s another aspect of knightly honor. I will go seek them, find, and identify.” Roland is a faithful companion in arms, even beyond death. For example, after Marsile’s army is driven back toward Spain, Roland faithfully gathers the fallen corpses of beloved comrades, searching the field to locate them by name: “These friends of ours, we loved so well in life, / We must not leave them lying where they died. There is wise valour, and there is recklessness: / Prudence is worth more than foolhardiness.” In other words, Roland’s bravery would have been more admirable if it had been tempered by greater wisdom and restraint-or at least the humility to heed Oliver’s.ĭespite Roland’s stubbornness and recklessness, the poet still upholds him as the epitome of knightly loyalty and honor. When Roland decides to finally sound the Olifant-at which point many French comrades lie dead around him-Oliver reproaches his friend even more harshly: “Companion, you got us in this mess. Roland, then, is far from a perfect figure, and his prideful actions have consequences. A little later, when Oliver rebukes his friend’s pride, Roland repeats, “Speak no such foul despite! / Curst be the breast whose heart knows cowardice!” This situation ends up setting the scene for Roland’s death (and Oliver’s, too). Roland refuses: “‘Now God forbid’, Roland makes answer wroth, / That living man should say he saw me go / Blowing of horns for any Paynim foe!” In other words, Roland won’t concede that he needs help against mere pagans-such a concession cuts against his sense of honor. When Roland and his best friend, Oliver, find themselves beset by the enemy at the rear of Charlemayn’s army, Oliver urges Roland to blow the “Olifant” (his ivory horn) in order to summon help from those at the front. By portraying Roland as a flawed yet unfailingly loyal and beloved figure, the poet suggests that although a chivalrous knight may be susceptible to rashness and pride, his character is most truly revealed by his loyalty unto death.Īlthough Roland is brave, as a chivalrous man should be, his bravery crosses the line into rashness at times. On the other hand, Roland is unendingly loyal to his friends, protective of his honor, and finally sacrifices his own life for his cause (defending himself and his men against an ambush by the Spanish Muslims) during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. When, early in the poem, Charlemayn and the French are cautious about the intentions of King Marsile (who has recently killed some Frenchmen and now makes peaceful overtures to Charlemayn), Roland “fiercely disagrees” and jumps to his feet, declaring that “Foolish advice gave to you indeed Spend all your life, if need be, in the siege.” Through pride, Roland also makes a fateful mistake during battle against King Marsile’s troops, endangering his comrades’ lives. For example, Roland is characterized as hotheaded from the beginning. Though Charlemayn’s nephew Roland is the unambiguous hero of The Song of Roland, Roland is not a one-dimensional character-unlike Charlemayn, he is flawed.
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