This is gonna be a return to Chivalry, though of a different sort from the previous Chivalry articles, because I want to get into the writing of one of my favourite scenes from Pillars of the Earth (one of the greatest pieces of literature from the 20th Century). It is from near the end when Philip the Prior of Kingsbridge, confronts Waleran, after the latter tries to tempt him to his side, to turn his back on all that Philip believes in and favour greed over faith.
This after Waleran has attempted to break Philip, has stolen from him, has had his best friend murdered (Tom Builder) and has also stolen the faith others have in him. Here’s the scene for you all to see and not take my word for it.
Prior Philip VS Waleran
The funny thing about Follett is that he’s an atheist and an inveterate critic of the clergy, but a profound lover of Cathedrals. A man who wept bitterly at the burning of Notre-Dame, and one who felt that it had to cut across all borders and politics, and who was to also write a monograph about Cathedrals and their history.
Though not all of his work is great, he has happened upon one major idea of some importance; Monastic Chivalry.
On that note it must be asked, is there such a thing? An example of such a character can be found in the Robin Hood stories in the shape of Friar Tuck. One of Robin’s oldest supporters in terms of the literature, he has remained one of the most enduring, appearing in plays, novels, short stories, films and so on.
There is also Merlin, who though a wizard and prophet in the old Arthuriana legends, still plays the role of a priestly-magician archetype alongside Friar Tuck. In some versions (such as Sam Neill’s) he’s a sword-wielding badass, and in others he’s just a dotering old man tasked with mentoring Arthur. The truth is, he’s no less a monk in some ways as he typically even when he has a love-interest, chooses Arthur over her, becoming something of a monk or a priestly character (Sam Neill’s again).
There’s also the story of Ivanhoe, though in this case the Jewish father of Rachel fits to an extent the archetype a little more, being helpless, priestly and helping to have trained Rachel in the art of healing. When offered money, he refuses on account of considering it Ivanhoe’s for having saved him.
If this sounds like a study of the magician-archetype of male sexuality, the truth is that one cannot discuss Monastic Chivalry without exploring this archetype.
The truth of the matter is that the monk is often the one who plays mentor to the hero, be he a brigand (Robin), a messianic Celtic-King (Arthur) or a master-builder or two (Tom & Jack). His is an integral role in the literature, and in art as it is he who conveys to the hero the teachings and secrets of the divine, the old wisdom. Heck Gandalf falls into this role, being more monk and wayfaring priest than wizard in some ways.
But all that aside, this brings me to the next part in this topic; just what is Monastic Chivalry? In a way, I think it has to not only do with mentoring the ‘messiah’ or mentoring the hero as one might call the main lead in a story but also him preserving the truth. Look at the Conan the Barbarian movie where Mako is the chronicler of Conan’s story, or even Dragonheart where it is Brother Gilbert who recounts the tale of Bowen, Kara & Draco.
They are the preserver of the truth, married to veracity. The monk must pass down to the next generation the truth, doing what journalists ought but don’t always do. It is they who did this for millennia for Europe and Asia, and even at times Africa, faithfully and loyally.
In literature, what this means is that the truth must never be compromised, must never be tarnished and must never be tainted. Incredibly hard for humans, or any other race in fantasy fiction (if you’re writing fantasy). This unarmed and often times defenceless hero is at his most interesting when he has little more than a pen, no magic, no light-magic and nothing but his heart on his sleeve and a steely dedication to what is wrong.
What’s also noteworthy, is that it is often this archetype playing father and passing down the code of honour to the next generation. In Superman we have Jonathan Kent (not a priest but still a dad) passing down the ideals of Truth, Justice and the American Way to Clark. In King Arthur we have Merlin, in Dragonheart we the audience have Gilbert and Bowen has Draco. But in Lord of the Rings, we strikingly have Gandalf passing along the quest to destroy the One Ring to Frodo and his friends, but also the teachings not to throw the first stone and judge Gollum. What is more is that it is Gandalf who teaches if subtly so Aragorn, to become the King he is meant to be in the book, casting aside his doubts and guiding him towards his mission. In Conan it is the priest Hadrathus, who teaches him of the Heart of Ahriman and helps him to figure out how to defeat Xaltotun and rescue the beautiful Zenobia, with Hadrathus even offering succour to the courageous Lady Albiona. What is interesting is that Hadrathus also using the Heart of Ahriman previously abused by those of wicked intent to destroy Xaltotun casting him back into Hell.
Notice something? At no point is there an alliance between good and evil. At no point does the monk mentor the hero to do so, nor does he allow himself to do so. You cannot threaten, you cannot bargain and you cannot trick the monk into swearing himself to evil.
The truth behind Monastic Chivalry is that he is an agent of truth, in a deceitful world, full of evil, one that is fallen in nature and that would taint all that is good. If ever there was anti-postmodern figure more than any other, it is the likes of Prior Philip denouncing the sort of bargain Bishop Waleran preaches. Because ultimately evil must devour all that is around it, just as lies and postmodernism must.
But the thing about the truth is that it must always come out…