The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake

The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake

Who is the most noble knight of them all? In the middle ages there were requirements to being a knight. Sir Launcelot met all of the requirement and much more. He remains the greatest knight who ever lived in Sir Malory’s “The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake ”. For instance, he “never abandons a friend, ally, or noble cause.” His willingness to “protect the innocent” would be another example. His undeniable will to “respect women” is also an example. Sir Launcelot is a knight who is looked up to regardless of his stature or nobility.
Sir Launcelot is a man of his word. He would never abandon a person in need. An example would be when he saves his fellow members of the Round Table from the evil and powerful Sir Tarquine. When Launcelot hears that Tarquine is holding them “prisoner” (124) he confronts him. After a heated battle he beheads his foe and leaves Sir Gaheris to free the other knights. He did not literally unlock their cages and let them go freely. It was his battle and victory itself that freed the knights. If it was not for Launcelot’s brute force, skills, and killing of Tarquine the knights may have never been freed. Another example would be when Launcelot gets captured by the four queens and forced to be a prisoner. He then freed a young noblewoman who sets him free only asking one request in exchange. The request was for him to “champion” (121) her father in next Tuesday’s tournament. Launcelot then agrees to do what she requested him to do. Later we learn that he champion her father. What did he really need to do? He was able to do as he pleased but instead held to his promise. We know that he did it out of the kindness of his heart and he could have lied to woman but he instead kept his promise to her.
Repeatedly the weak and innocent are overlooked or taken as victims. Sir Launcelot was not one of those people who did this. He was a man of honor and protected those who could not protect themselves. Women illustrated in this story are in this...

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