Abstract

This thesis explores the linguistic and narrative transformation of bedtrick scenes in Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur compared to their depictions in the Old French Vulgate. It investigates how Malory modifies the original sources’ romanticized portrayals of rape and deceit, shifting toward a rhetoric that aligns with his contemporary concerns, particularly regarding legitimacy and moral order. By analyzing three key bedtrick scenes – Uther and Igraine, Arthur and Morgause, and Lancelot and Elaine – this study reveals how Malory downplays the enigma and emotional justifications present in the Vulgate, opting instead for a sparser, more chronicle-like tone. This approach, as observed by scholars such as Corinne Saunders and Kathryn Gravdal, reflects a deliberate effort to sterilize and rationalize sexual violence, distancing it from the romantic glamorization typical of courtly romance. The analysis underscores that while the Vulgate blurs the boundaries between love and coercion, Malory reconfigures these narratives to serve his cultural and moral agenda, ultimately obscuring the reality of deceit, violence, and rape. The thesis concludes that despite their stylistic differences, both Le Morte Darthur and the Old French Vulgate participate in a broader literary tradition that seeks to rationalize and contain the disruptive potential of sexual transgression within the frameworks of their respective societies.