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Chanson de Roland

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L'histoire de La Chanson de Roland est essentiellement la vieille histoire de la lutte entre le bien et le mal. Les côtés sont aussi clairement marquées comme ils viennent: le chrétien Francs, dirigé par Charlemagne, représentent le bien et la volonté de Dieu, tandis que les Sarrasins musulman, dirigé par Marsilla et Baligant, représentent la plus pure mal. La bonne, dans la vision du monde médiéval, triomphe toujours à la fin; cela est le résultat inévitable d'un bon et tout-puissant Dieu qui prend un intérêt dans les événements humains. Dieu intervient assez souvent pour assurer que bon sort à la fin; Ainsi, par exemple, Thierry bat miraculeusement Pinabel dans un duel. Bien qu'il soit l'homme plus faible, il est juste et droit, et Dieu fait en sorte qu'il gagne.
L'auteur fait une différence très claire entre les vilains et les héros dans ce livre et il commence à la première ligne, « Charles le roi, notre grand empereur ». Dès le début de l'histoire l'auteur donne le ton que Charlemagne est un magnifique chef et il continue à soutenir davantage cette déclaration avec la description du roi adverse. Bien qu'il ne fait pas des déclarations négatives, il s'assure de préciser que Marsile n’aime pas Dieu. Ce petit détail de Marsile signifie tellement parce que la France est un pays fondé sur les principes du christianisme et le mouvement entier des croisades était de convertir d'autres nations au christianisme. La présentation de l'autre côté, des musulmans, est décrit comme sans doute mal et de la base, clairement moins noble, moins viril, et moins courageux que les chrétiens, mais tout de même un ennemi digne. Mais même si l'auteur se assure de villainize les musulmans, ils ont beaucoup plus en commun avec le français que la plupart réalisent.
La première chose que l'on peut comparer est leurs religions. Par exemple, les musulmans de La Chanson de Roland adorent Mohammed, Termagant, et Apollo, reflétant la forme de la Trinité chrétienne, mais signifiant idolâtrie. De même, il y a douze pairs sarrasins pour correspondre aux douze pairs francs sur le champ de bataille; les armées ennemies se organisent en les mêmes formes, mais les chrétiens se battent plus noblement. L'auteur assure toujours de représenter les Français dans une meilleure lumière.
L'histoire se poursuit et les différences entre les deux nations et chefs sont plus évident. Le poète met en place de fortes similitudes entre Charlemagne et Marsile, et la façon dont ils gouvernent. Les deux reposent sur leurs vassaux pour le conseil et le soutien, bien que la décision finale revient au monarque. Tous les deux ont un conseiller particulier de confiance, Naimes de Charlemagne et Blancandrin pour Marsile. Et les deux groupes d'hommes à trouver leur identité et leur honneur à partir leur pays, des dieux et des rois. Bien que la volonté Sarcen à sacrifier leurs propres enfants à garder Espagne révèle leur brutalité, il montre aussi une dévotion étonnant au pays de même que les Français ont. Nous voyons cela quand Roland présente une réticence similaire à abandonner l'Espagne. Il est prêt à continuer la guerre, même si cela signifie perdre des vies plus chrétienne.
Quand nous approchons la fin de l'histoire la perte de Marsile de sa main droite continue le développement de similitudes entre Frank et Sarrasins. Les Francs ont leur vengeance contre les Sarrasins d'Espagne comme Charlemagne a métaphoriquement perdu sa main droite dans la mort de Roland, mais, Marsile a littéralement perdu sa main droite. Bien que Charlemagne, grâce au soutien de Dieu, est capable de transformer sa douleur en action, Marsile est un homme brisé. Il remet son contrôle de Saragosse à Baligant. Cela montre encore une fois, peu importe le degré de similitude de ces nations sont les Francs sera toujours «mieux» en raison de leur croyance dans le vrai Dieu.

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