Women of Words in Le Morte Darthur

The Autonomy of Speech in Malory’s Female Characters

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Medieval, British
Cover of the book Women of Words in Le Morte Darthur by Siobhán M. Wyatt, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Siobhán M. Wyatt ISBN: 9783319342047
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: October 5, 2016
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan Language: English
Author: Siobhán M. Wyatt
ISBN: 9783319342047
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: October 5, 2016
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Language: English

Offering a new reading of Malory’s famed text, Le Morte Darthur, this book provides the first full-length survey of the alterations Malory made to female characters in his source texts. Through detailed comparisons with both Old French and Middle English material, Siobhán M. Wyatt discusses how Malory radically altered his French and English source texts to create a gendered pattern in the reliability of speech, depicting female discourse as valuable and truthful. Malory’s authorial crafting indicates his preference for a certain “type” of female character: self-governing, opinionated, and strong. Simultaneously, the portrayal of this very readable “type” yields characterization. While late medieval court records indicate an increasingly negative attitude towards female speech and a tendency to punish vociferous women as “scolds,” Malory makes the words of chiding damsels constructive. While his contemporary writers suppress the powers of magical women, Malory empowers his enchantress characters; while the authors of his French source texts accentuate Guinevere’s flaws, Malory portrays her with sympathy.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Offering a new reading of Malory’s famed text, Le Morte Darthur, this book provides the first full-length survey of the alterations Malory made to female characters in his source texts. Through detailed comparisons with both Old French and Middle English material, Siobhán M. Wyatt discusses how Malory radically altered his French and English source texts to create a gendered pattern in the reliability of speech, depicting female discourse as valuable and truthful. Malory’s authorial crafting indicates his preference for a certain “type” of female character: self-governing, opinionated, and strong. Simultaneously, the portrayal of this very readable “type” yields characterization. While late medieval court records indicate an increasingly negative attitude towards female speech and a tendency to punish vociferous women as “scolds,” Malory makes the words of chiding damsels constructive. While his contemporary writers suppress the powers of magical women, Malory empowers his enchantress characters; while the authors of his French source texts accentuate Guinevere’s flaws, Malory portrays her with sympathy.

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Anticipating Future Innovation Pathways Through Large Data Analysis by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Logics and Falsifications by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book 100 years of European Philosophy Since the Great War by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Nurse Educator's Guide to Best Teaching Practice by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Dementia Care by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Encountering, Experiencing and Shaping Careers by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Rocket Ranch by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book The Dynamics of Judicial Independence by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Early Evolution of Human Memory by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Universities as Agencies by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Discussing the News by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Internal Medicine by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Islam and Muslims in the West by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Inductive Logic Programming by Siobhán M. Wyatt
Cover of the book Shaping the EU Global Strategy by Siobhán M. Wyatt
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy