Hubris

A common epic convention is characterizing the epic hero as having too much pride, or hubris. It is also important to note that in relation to the text, pride is also one of the seven deadly sins. As we discussed in last Monday's class, Roland’s tragic flaw is his overabundance of pride. His ultimate death in solitude in the middle of the poem seems deserving due to this flaw. However, characters on both sides of the spectrum, the Saracens and even Charlemagne himself, can be defined in terms of their level of pride.

A big contradiction in the text (Max pointed it out in his post) is the ending. Lais 209, describes Saint Gabriel coming to the Emperor's chamber telling Charlemange that he must assemble his army once again. Charlemagne's response is quite surprising as he says, "how weary is my life!" (p.203). Yet, the text as a whole (particularly the second half) implies that Charlemagne will rise up and fight to save the Christians in the city of Imphe.

However, this is quite ironic in that the text points more towards Charlemagne's pride than to his quest to spread Christianity. For instance, lais 259, states "nothing at all can ever end their strife Till one confess he's wrong, the other right" (p.187). This words echo Roland's declaration that: "Pagans are wrong and Christians are right." But why exactly? Couldn't it be argued that Christians are wrong to pillage foreign lands and people all in the name of Christianity? Couldn't it also be argued that Charlemagne was a very proud and arrogant man who just wanted to acquire more land?

Finally, isn't the second battle fought solely over the death of their best warrior, Roland? "For Roland's death I think they'll dearly pay" (p.216) says Charles to his soldiers. The French had their pride tampered with when the Saracens killed Roland. The French lost their "pride" when they lost Roland. The cause for the second battle is not over the Saracens being non-Christians, but over Roland's death. Therefore, it is quite contradictory that Charlemagne stands for a symbol of Christianity in the text, yet he possess one of the seven deadly sins himself, pride.

On the other hand, it is important to note that the one character in the text who does not seem to succumb to being too prideful is Bramimonda. While the Saracens continue to fight (possibly because they are too proud to admit they are "wrong") Bramimonda does not. She is neither too arrogant nor too proud to give up her entire identity. She does not stand up and fight against Charlemagne when he takes her "captive to fair France" (p.191). She even gives up her name and her voice. In a sense, the poem indicates that Bramimonda admits she was "wrong," unlike her fellow Saracens who are too proud to do subject themselves to such belittlement.

The question of pride is an interesting one in the text. Although Roland's actions are most characteristic of a person who possesses too much pride, the other characters seem to as well.