Comments on: “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to appear in a tortilla in Mexico.” http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/11/05/now-if-youll-excuse-me-i-have-to-appear-in-a-tortilla-in-mexico/ The Lives and Deaths of King Arthur Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:30:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Caprica Six http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/11/05/now-if-youll-excuse-me-i-have-to-appear-in-a-tortilla-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Caprica Six Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:51:57 +0000 http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/11/05/now-if-youll-excuse-me-i-have-to-appear-in-a-tortilla-in-mexico/#comment-98 I don't know much about the Lollard movement in Malory's day, but if he is "dealing with it" in the Arthurian tales, it seems like he definitely come out against it. After finishing "The Death of King Arthur," I got the impression that Malory is espousing an ultra-Catholic fanaticism doctrine. Everyone has to be "shriven" before they die, everyone who lives has to go into a hermitage and spend the rest of their lives as anorexics, and I guess Mordred's defintely going to hell, seeing as no one on his side was left to give him confession. Like I said, I don't know exactly what the Lollards stood for, but I suppose Malory had to cater to the wealthy (which back then would have included a fair number of high-ranking clergy), so the blatant religious overtones may not be so much his own personal convictions as much as plain sucking up. I don’t know much about the Lollard movement in Malory’s day, but if he is “dealing with it” in the Arthurian tales, it seems like he definitely come out against it.

After finishing “The Death of King Arthur,” I got the impression that Malory is espousing an ultra-Catholic fanaticism doctrine. Everyone has to be “shriven” before they die, everyone who lives has to go into a hermitage and spend the rest of their lives as anorexics, and I guess Mordred’s defintely going to hell, seeing as no one on his side was left to give him confession.

Like I said, I don’t know exactly what the Lollards stood for, but I suppose Malory had to cater to the wealthy (which back then would have included a fair number of high-ranking clergy), so the blatant religious overtones may not be so much his own personal convictions as much as plain sucking up.

]]> By: cristinamabob http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/11/05/now-if-youll-excuse-me-i-have-to-appear-in-a-tortilla-in-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-95 cristinamabob Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:54:13 +0000 http://projects.pomona.edu/english83f07/2007/11/05/now-if-youll-excuse-me-i-have-to-appear-in-a-tortilla-in-mexico/#comment-95 There are many points in the tale where it seems strange for Malory to be descibing things in the manner that he is. In the beginning it is almost as if Sir Galahad is a Christ like figure when King Mordrains states "For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken so in thee that my flesh, which was all dead of oldness, is become again young." It is likely that this is done to emphasize the importance of the grail, or at least the believed importance of the grail at the time. It also emphasizes the true meaning of transubstantiation. It isn't only bread and wine, it IS the blood and body of Jesus Christ himself, and therefore shouldn't be taken without that thought in one's mind. Any other ideas? There are many points in the tale where it seems strange for Malory to be descibing things in the manner that he is. In the beginning it is almost as if Sir Galahad is a Christ like figure when King Mordrains states “For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken so in thee that my flesh, which was all dead of oldness, is become again young.” It is likely that this is done to emphasize the importance of the grail, or at least the believed importance of the grail at the time. It also emphasizes the true meaning of transubstantiation. It isn’t only bread and wine, it IS the blood and body of Jesus Christ himself, and therefore shouldn’t be taken without that thought in one’s mind. Any other ideas?

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