Tammy’s Reviews > The Song of Roland > Status Update

He’d go write up to the gate and play a trick, but Roland laughed in his face.

22-23 Ganelon can’t stand to hear Roland laugh at him and he’s outraged, nearly losing his mind. This is like Hamlet and Claudio. Ganelon complains like a whiny middle schooler. He says it’s going to kill him and he practically makes his will on the spot. Charlemagne says to suck it up, buttercup and Ganelon must go.

Then Roland says to send Ganelon. LOL I wonder if he’s trying to sift his stepfather. Then he stands up, guns blazing, in a very haughty manner and calls Roland a fool and mad! Then he threatens Roland within an inche of his life. Roland flatters him and says that the king needs a good man, but Roland will be happy to take his place.

21 Ganelon says he will go only if Charlemagne commands him.

18 Roland offers, and then Oliver nixes that because he’s a hothead. Oliver wants to go but Charlemagne silences both and the council has nothing to say. The token is a wand and glove. A WAND! How cool is that? It makes me think of how that got morphed in the wizarding world.

19 The archbishop requests the tokens. Charlemagne is angry at him and tell to shut up and sit down. LOL

However, the duke does not attack Roland’s character. Rather he gives many reasons why Marsilion’s back is against the wall and why he might want to settle for peace. The French sees wisdom. It’s almost the way of the will versus the way of reason Will is saying, “Let’s go home!” and Reason is saying, “Let me tell you why.” 17 Then Old Naimon (I keep thinking Nestor) offers to go and Charlemagne nixes that.

After a prolonged silence, Ganelon springs up and says not to trust a brawler like Roland. If we are really Christian, we should accept his peace offering. The old guilt trap that Satan uses against well-meaning people of faith. Ganelon accuses him of being prideful and reckless with a swollen-head.

16 Duke Naimon comes up with many sound reasons to support what Ganelon says.

Roland reminds me of the passion in Boromir’s speech at the council of Elrond. He reminds them of how Marsilion sent 15 men bearing olive branches and his men killed two Frenchmen. He would rather exact revenge for their deaths. As he explained, he’s been fighting for seven long hard years. He has learned the hard way not to trust the pagans.

15 Charlemagne strokes his beard and mustache. Again everyone is silent.

12-14 There seems to be a lot of mirroring. There is another list of men meeting the emperor and they are listed in pairs. Twelve names and one is Ganelon, already noted as treacherous. The council starts which the poet states brought sore grief. The emperor restates the offer and all agree that they need to be guarded. Roland springs to his feet and says not to trust Marsilion.

10 He tells Blancandrin that he doesn’t buy it because Marsilion is his foe. The latter tells him that he will bring 10, 15, or 20 young men, including his son. He will come on Michelmas to be baptized and Charlemagne says that he may save his soul yet.

11 He orders the ten mules to stalls to be fed and to pitch a tent for the party. He sends twelve men to wait on them. He goes to pray and then holds a council.

They sit under a pine near a rose bush. He sits on a red-gold folding stool with his white flowing beard and silver hair. Some messengers arrive and greet him.

9 Blancandrin shows up and speaks in fine words of all the things Marsilion if Charlemagne will spare Sargasso. He has studied the Bible carefully and he will go to France and repent. The king began to brood.

Charlemagne satisfied. His catapults have won the day. He has slaughtered the pagans, except for the ones who chose to convert. He’s bestowed booty on his chevaliers. In a mirror of Marsilion, he sits in an orchard and seven of his best men are named, including Roland and Oliver. In all, 15,00 of his men sit on white carpets. The elders play mental games (drafts and chess) while the younger men play physicial games.