In the early 19th century, medievalism, Romanticism and the
Gothic Revival reawakened interest in Arthur and the medieval romances. A new
code of ethics for 19th-century gentlemen was shaped around the chivalric ideals
that the "Arthur of romance" embodied. This renewed interest first
made itself felt in 1816, when Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur was reprinted
for the first time since 1634. Initially the medieval Arthurian legends were of
particular interest to poets, inspiring, for example, William Wordsworth to
write "The Egyptian Maid" (1835), an allegory of the Holy Grail. Pre-eminent
among these was Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose first Arthurian poem, "The
Lady of Shalott", was published in 1832. Although Arthur himself played a minor role in
some of these works, following in the medieval romance tradition, Tennyson's
Arthurian work reached its peak of popularity with Idylls of the King, which reworked the entire narrative of Arthur's
life for the Victorian era. First published in 1859, it sold 10,000 copies
within the first week. In the Idylls, Arthur became a symbol of ideal
manhood whose attempt to establish a perfect kingdom on earth fails, finally,
through human weakness. Tennyson's works prompted a large number of imitators,
generated considerable public interest in the legends of Arthur and the
character himself, and brought Malory's tales to a wider audience. Indeed, the
first modernization of Malory's great compilation of Arthur's tales was
published shortly after Idylls appeared, in 1862, and there were six
further editions and five competitors before the century ended. [Wikipedia ‘King
Arthur’]
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| Victorian view of the Holy Grail |
Blog Question:
What was it about the Victorian age that promoted the revival of the Arthurian
story?
Similar to the other Arthurian revivals we have discussed, I believe it is the ability to adapt the Arthurian legend to the specific times of the revival which so hold its appeal. In the same way the Anarchy and the War of the Roses both prompted an Arthurian revival in their political uncertainy, so did the Victorian Age. However, it was not monarchical upheaval which mirrored the Arthurial legend in Victorian times, instead, it was the image of Camelot and the perfect society that mirrored the state of the British Empire at its peak.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bec; the revival of Arthurian tales was appealing in the Victorian age because it illustrated an idealised monarchical society in a time of strict social values, sexual restraint and struggles against a rigid elitist class system. The image of Arthur conveyed the height of upper class dominance while a new notion, that every man could become wealthy, was fast taking hold. The Arthurian tales would no doubt have been popular in the Victorian age because they sought to reaffirm aging values of a class hierarchy and the importance of a monarchy.
ReplyDeleteThe revival of the Arthurian story can be explained through Britain’s ‘quest’ to expand their power overseas and create and consolidate a great Empire for themselves. In the Arthurian story, this theme of quests for power and glory is one of the core components to the story. The British Empire was expanding rapidly in the Victorian Age, and drew comparisons from the Arthur myth about the successfulness of their quests for power and how they too could be great in their endeavours for power.
ReplyDeleteI believe the revival of the Arthurian story in the Victorian age was prompted by a desire for a discussion on, and criticism of Victorian morality. As with other adaptations, the Arthurian legend is an excellent platform for writers to unleash their opinions of their current society, and Tennyson does this in a similar manner to Malory. With regards to Tennyson, I believe he used this story to discuss the values of social and sexual constraint, and uses the monarchial characters to reflect his concerns for actual aristocratic hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments above. I feel that Arthur was represented as a magnificent figure. The Victorian age was a time of scientific, technological and intellectual advances. From this, society was starting to build on the idea of bettering the human condition. Therefore,like the modern world the Arthurian world and the figure of Arthur could be used to reflect the idea of individuals and their own quest to better themselves.
ReplyDeleteElouise Johnson
Using Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' as an example, the revival of the Arthurian story in the Victorian era can be attributed to the parallels between the two. In his idylls, Tennyson balances appearance and reality/ true and false, this became attractive to the Victorian audience because of the significance of these themes within their own era; faith and doubt/ hope and despair. Bettering of the human condition through scientific, technological and intellectual advances was seen as an undermining of faith, with the possibility of exploitation, which questioned the very notion of said bettering. Arthurian matter had the potential to better the human condition but was confronted by the failings and imperfections inherent in the world & its inhabitants. In the Arthurian story, Arthur brings order to a devastated land, inhabited by beasts, demonstrating that man must overcome his beastlike qualities in order to advance morally and to move toward the divine. Similarly, looking at Spenser’s work, the revised Arthurian material was structured around virtue; appealing to interests and political concerns of the time. Short answer; it was relevant to the society, and could be utilised to promote virtue and morality.
ReplyDelete