TOWARD A NEW COURTLY ETHICS

Abstract

Having for background a world which, at the beginning of the thirteenth century, presents us with the ceremonies, festivities, tournaments and “étiquette” in relation with the “merveilleux” and a specific ethics as signs of the Arthurian romance’s ideology, a strong movement is manifest as inherent changes in that specific ethics. The essence in evolution is opposed to an immutable appearance and the principal directions of the courtly ethics receive a new content determined by new rapports (love/sex, honor/dishonor, fealty/submissiveness etc.), and a “merveilleux”, whose interest moves from its various manifestations to the goal of its presence. This new courtly ethics is pursued in Les Merveilles de Rigomer, Méraugis de Portlesguez and Gliglois