The power of the powerless: unconventional power structures in the Suite-Vulgate du Merlin and its Middle Dutch translation

Abstract

In this master thesis, I will be discussing the Old French Suite-Vulgate du Merlin (first half of the 13th century) and its Middle Dutch translation, the Merlijncontinuatie (1327). Both Arthurian romances give us an unconventional insight in the power structure at the Arthurian court, contrarily to how it has been generally described in Arthurian literature, and in particular in the rest of the Lancelot-Grail cycle to which both romances belong. In this unconventional power structure, squires and women unexpectedly are able to claim power. Through a close reading of the text, a selection of primary text episodes has been made in which the authority and the power of squires and/or women tends to be larger than expected. These episodes have been analysed and compared to other Arthurian romances. Squires and women are discussed separately in the two main chapters of this paper. All of the hypotheses have been elaborated by the use of primary text episodes, both from the Old French Suite-Vulgate du Merlin and the Middle Dutch Merlijncontinuatie.