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Aesthetics Becoming Morality
NMB, Florida October 7, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
AESTHETICS BECOMING MORALITY
I was lucky with the weather and with my doctor's approval I sallied forth
once more into the morn on my bicycle. It has been a long time since I last
rode out and although no sun rose to roast me I am dripping and worn. My
course on English Literature was waiting and I once again plunged into the
explanation of King Arthur's (He of Ye Rounde Tableaux) role in history -
this time by Mallory who wrote the "Death of Arthur".
The lectures (which do not get any better or worse) took up the notion that
aesthetics or the composition of stories - as opposed to letters supplying
information - are culturally adopted and turned into moral lessons that give
certain periods their highest form of expression.
My thoughts turned to the "Great Man" explanation of changes in society.
Arthur did not actually exist according to most interpreters. But he was
the great man of early England where the culture that was to be the
predecessor of our American culture was formed. It was around Arthur that
myths and legends clung portraying the best features of the best "great man"
who became a model for the rest of us.
Arthur was the leader of a motley bunch of bandits who being horsed and
owning swords made themselves into the rulers of a primitive society. This
real portrait was turned into fair-haired nobles and knights rescuing
"ladies" from dastardly cowards usually dressed in black. Thus chivalry and
gentlemanly codes of conduct were instituted among men.
Mallory changed an incident in the story of the Green Knight whose lady's
"girdle" was filched by the noble Sir Gawaine. This unexplained but
lengthily excused slip in the polished armor of Gawaine, "that best example
of the Knights of the Round Table", put me somehow to thinking about Moses.
Mallory rehabilitated Gawaine for his single less than noble incident. But
Moses, creator of a nation, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land
because he disobeyed instructions one time. What do we make of this?
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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