Main Ideas In “The Song Of Roland”

Song of Rowland is a story about Charlemagne and his attempt to seize Saragossa. This land was controlled by Marsilla, a Muslim King. The poem focuses on the feud between Rowland’s stepfather Ganelon and the devastating consequences of that feud including Charlemagne’s betrayal as their lord-and-kinsman. The author manages to convey the central theme of his work, which is loyalty, through plot and character.

The poem introduces three characters that show loyalty to different degrees. Ganelon, a vassal for Emperor Charlemagne who is also the stepfather of Roland, is one such character. Ganelon, who was nominated for a suicide mission to Marsilla by his stepson, travels to Saragossa to act disloyally towards Charlemagne. He tells the Muslim leader Roland has been the reason they continue to fight. He will have Olivier and his nephew, the wealthy Count Roland. They will have twenty thousand Franks. Send out one hundred thousands of your pagans …”.

Marsilla sets out to ambush Roland with his men. They return to France with their gifts from the Muslims. It is unclear whether this is a disloyal move, but Ganelon had issued Defiance Roland and it can be shown that Ganelon was acting in disloyalty. Ganelon was first disloyal to his family. Roland was his stepson. Therefore, trying to harm or to kill Roland would be considered disloyal, since they were kin.

Charlemagne was executing Roland’s orders. Ganelon then betrayed Roland by default. Ganelon also betrayed Charlemagne who Ganelon had pledged loyalty to. Ganelon was first to his lord and not to Roland. Ganelon’s act disloyalty caused more damage than Roland. Nearly 20,000 men were killed by Ganelon because of his disloyalty. Ganelon’s disloyalty led to the destruction of nearly 20,000 men.

Ganelon wasn’t the only one who disloyal Charlemagne. Roland looks like a great example of a vassal. He insisted on not sending a Messenger to Negotiate a Peace Treaty. All previous messengers had been killed. He said “…some fifteen pagans he dispatched carrying an olive branch.

Roland speaks out of his turn, despite being loyal to Charlemagne. Roland, as a younger vassal should have waited until the higher-ranking vassals spoke before he spoke. He is also disloyal when he is under attack from the Muslim forces at Sizer. Olivier is shocked at the sheer size of the Muslim army and asks Roland for help.

Roland says that he will not call for help and “May God bless…that it be said any man alive”! My family will not be shamed. Roland will not give up his honor even if it means losing his men or his life. This is clearly disloyal. Charlemagne doesn’t allow loyal vassals get 20,000 dead, because they don’t want honor to be lost.

Roland allowed his loyalty to be compromised by personal honor, even though he was generally loyal. He also reaffirmed his loyalty to his family by naming Ganelon as the messenger to Marsilla. Roland suggested Ganelon travel from Saragossa to Ganelon because Ganelon is his stepfather. Ganelon reveals his disloyalty. He said, “They know quite clearly that I am the stepsire–yet name me for Marsilla.

“If God wills me to come back again,” (Roland 287-291). Roland, realizing that Marsilla’s messenger is likely to be dying, nominates Ganelon. Ganelon’s death would be detrimental not only to Ganelon but to the entire family. Olivier is Roland’s friend and vassal to Charlemagne. He is the most loyal character of the poem. He showed his loyalty to Charlemagne and offered to accompany Blancandrin home to Saragossa.

Charlemagne is unable to accept Olivier as one of his twelve peers. Charlemagne also refuses to allow Olivier to serve as messenger. Olivier, however, is more than just a loyal vassal. He is also a faithful friend. Roland suggested that they sound the horn to request help. Olivier gives Roland his advice after seeing how many pagan soldiers they have to face.

Companion Roland should sound his horn for Charles to hear. He supports Roland and doesn’t want to go, even though he is certain it will end in his death. Roland, seeing Olivier had died in combat, says that Olivier is his loyal friend. “Olivier, fair comrade. You were a son of Duke Renier,” he said.

To break a lance shaft or pierce a shield. To overcome and terrorize the proud. To counsel and sustain valorous. To overcome and terrify gluttons. Olivier is a great example of a loyal vassal. He was loyal to Charlemagne but also showed unfailing loyalty towards his friend, even to the end.

Loyalty isn’t limited to the Christian community. Blancandrin the Muslim vassal, Marsilla’s, is described in “Among the wisest pagans…very valorous and dutiful in his service to his lord.” He advises them to offer hostages as well as many gifts in return for the Franks fleeing Spain.

He even offered his son as a hostage. We will send his sons from our wives; even though it might mean his death, we’ll send him my sons. It is far better for them to go there without heads than for us all to lose our honors, our lands, or be brought to begary.

Blancandrin is well aware that his son would be killed. Blancandrin does not plan for Marsilla’s conversion to Christianity or becoming a vassal in Charlemagne. However, he only promises to do so to help him get out of Saragossa. Blancandrin’s willingness to sacrifice his son to King Marsilla is a sign of how loyal he truly is.

During Ganelon’s trial, Ganelon is accused of treason for Charlemagne. Thirty-three Ganelon’s kinsmen support Ganelon. Pinabel is one such kinsman. Pinabel values Ganelon’s loyalty above Charlemagne’s. In court, Pinabel convinces Ganelon’s barons that he should live. Charlemagne is then told that the barons will pray for him to end his relationship with Ganelon. They’ll love and serve him then, as he’s well-born.

Charlemagne, however, declares that all of them are traitors. Thierry puts Charlemagne first and loyalty second. He defends Ganelon’s loyalty to Charlemagne and says that Ganelon must be punished. Ganelon became a felon when he betrayed him. This is why I deem him to be hanged and executed. His corpse should also be [thrown out to the dogs] in the same way as any other common criminal.” (Roland 38283).

The following battle determines Ganelon’s fate. But it also determines which loyalty loyalty should be given first: loyalty or kinsman loyalty. Each side tries to persuade their opponent to be disloyal during the battle. Pinabel requests Thierry to reconcile Ganelon with the king. Thierry tries and persuades Pinabel to surrender Ganelon to him. Both refuse to accept it.

Thierry defeated Pinabel in the end, resulting Ganelon’s death and the deaths of all his relatives. This was done because a traitor is able to kill himself and others. It is also a symbol of the fact that loyalty and duty to a lord are always more important than loyalty to the family.

The epic poem Song of Roland explores the theme of loyalty in great detail. There are many characters that can help you see the differences between loyalty and disloyalty, such as Ganelon Roland Olivier Blancandrin and Ganelon. To show that loyalty is more important than loyalty to your kin, the poem uses Ganelon’s trial. The theme of loyalty was conveyed through characterization, plot, symbol, and other means.

Works cited

Robert L. Harrison’s “44” from The Song of Roland tells the story of a battle. Signet Classic published a 2002 edition of a work in New York City. 583-88. Print.

In the fourteenth section of The Song of Roland, Robert L. Harrison discusses the consequences of betrayal. Signet Classic, 2002, published in New York City. 202-09. Print.

Robert L. Harrison’s “85” from The Song of Roland tells the story of a battle. Signet Classic published a version of the book in 2002 in New York, NY. 1073-079. Print.

The poem “The Song of Roland” contains a section called “20” written by Robert L. Harrison. Signet Classic published a edition of the text in 2002 in New York City. 287-91. Print.

Robert L. Harrison’s “18” from The Song of Roland describes a fierce battle. Signet Classic published a version of the text in New York City in 2002. 258. Print.

Robert L. Harrison’s poem “82” from The Song of Roland speaks of a knight’s heroic quest. Signet Classic published New York, NY in 2002. 1049-052. Print.

In line 163 of The Song of Roland, Robert L. Harrison recounts a scene where the Franks are fighting off the Saracens. Signet Classic, 2002, published in New York, NY. 2207-014. Print.

Harrison, Robert L. Signet Classic published a 2002 edition of New York, NY. 22-26. Print.

Harrison, Robert L. Signet Classic published a new edition of the book in New York City in 2002. 40-46. Print.

In “276” from The Song of Roland, Robert L. Harrison describes an epic battle. Signet Classic published an edition of the work in New York City in 2002. 3808-813. Print.

The 277th stanza of The Song of Roland begins with the line “Then Olivier, the noble warrior,” and goes on to describe his courage and bravery. Signet Classic published a new edition of the book in New York City in 2002. 3828-833. Print.

Robert L. Harrison’s poem “288” from The Song of Roland depicts a battle between two sides. Signet Classic published a version of the book in New York in 2002. 3959. Print.