Student: Ronaldo Rodríguez
Year: 2008
Introduction to Arthurian Romance
In his chronicles, known as Historia Brittonum, Geoffrey of Monmouth gave birth to the Arthurian Story. Arthurian romance, thus, is the name given to the literary genre that exalts the figure of the courageous hero whose endeavors achieve impossible adventures. Its name derives from the figure of King Arthur, (conqueror of Britain during the c. 500 AD) upon whom Geoffrey bestows all the attributes that, with time, would become the essence of Arthurian legend. Based slenderly on historical facts, these medieval chronicles depict, as J. M. Dent has observed,
“The mystery, prowess, love and enchantment, where valorous heroes achieve impossible adventures and messengers from fairyland appear easily and naturally on marvelous errands.”
The Arthurian myth is a Christian one. Ultimately, the figure of the hero who brings salvation to all through personal sacrifice is that of Jesus Christ. As the Knigts of the Round Table, he serves someone whose power is higher than his. “I do nothing of myself,” records the gospel of John, “but as my father hath taught me [1]” He portraits all the attributes of perfection and he fights against evil and for the meek and lowly.
The purposes of this brief introduction is just to account for the origin of a set of values and elements that, as stated above, became legend and were (and still are) taken by and reproduced in western literature and other artist expressions. As Norris J. Lacy has observed:
"The popular notion of Arthur appears to be limited, not surprisingly, to a few motifs and names, but there can be no doubt of the extent to which a legend born many centuries ago is profoundly embedded in modern culture at every level [2] "
In an attempt to illustrate this phenomenon, this paper will deal with the presence of such elements and values in an American film of 1985, Rocky IV.
Rocky IV: a glimpse
Rocky IV is fourth movie of the Rocky franchise. Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone), who plans to retire from professional boxing, is challenged by an amateur boxer from the Soviet Union, named Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren), who has killed Rocky’s friend, Apollo Creed, during an exhibition match. After a personal struggle in which Rocky debates himself between the need to retire and the need to revenge his friend, he decides to accept the challenge.
The bout is set on Christmas day in the Soviet Union. The American boxer, now coached by Creed former coach, Tony “Duke” Evers, travels to the USSR where is given a log cabin and where is jealously watched by KGB agents.
The day of the match, Rocky faces not only an almost undefeatable opponent but also a very hostile public. The very head of the Russian government is also present. However, and in spite of being pounded relentlessly, Rocky’s immovable determination allows him to endure to the last round and to defeat Drago by knock out.
Right after the ordeal, Rocky, now with the whole arena shouting for him, pronounces an emotive talk were he says: "If I can change and you can change, everybody can change!"
Three basic Arthurian elements
The spirit of Arthurian legend is the spirit of heroic resistance against desperate odds. Three basic elements can relatively easily be found in Arthurian films and books. Firstly, and idea which is not exclusively Arthurian, that is to say, a notion of good, represented by a system and a notion of that which is evil, whatsoever thing that system fights against or it is victim of attack from. Secondly, the presence of the knight as he who defends the system from the evil aspirations of its opponents showing unspeakable courage throughout the process. In order to be genuinely Arthurian, the knight has to go through sore affliction and he has to either defeat an opponent which is stronger than him or to give his life in the attempt. Because of its religious influence, the figure of the hero embeds Christ-like attributes of perfection such as loyalty, charity, personal sacrifice, wisdom and truthfulness among many others.
Arthurian elements in the film
The notion of good and evil
The notion of good, in the case of the film Rocky IV, is represented by the American system (although its presence it is not explicit but only possible to elide through the presence of its antithesis, the USSR government). Such system includes the ideas of freedom, change and growth. Capitalism is also one of the main features of the American system. In opposition and consequently playing the role of evil, the USSR’s system is portrayed as not human and hostile. The head of the Communist government on whom there is a close up on the scene of the last match, resembles the face of the former Russian Primer Minister Mikhail Gorvachev.
The knight
Rocky Balboa represents the knight for he fights against the American system’s main opponent, the communist Soviet Union. As a hero, Rocky Balboa portrays some Christ-like attributes. He is an outsider of Italian ancestors; he is meek and humble although by the time of his fight against the Russian boxer he has become a true celebrity. He is close to nature and this is shown when he trains in the cabin log of the country side using natural elements (a mountain to climb, wood to cut, etc.) The idea of overcoming insurmountable odds is constructed by means of the opponent. Drago’s highly advance training along with his faultless physical complexion and the sharp contrast with Rocky’s humble circumstances combine to create the feeling that he cannot be defeated. Even his last name, Drago, brings about the image of middle-ages evil creatures.
Rocky’s heroic nature is constructed from the very beginning of the movie. After, Apollo’s death, the American boxer faces the tension of retirement or going back to the square to revenge his friend’s death. Rocky’s wife, who strives to get his husband out of the ring from the very first part of the saga and seeing the danger that challenging the Russian means, decides to make whatever it takes to get Rocky out of professional boxing perpetually. It is in the context in which Rocky faces the question “What am I?” to acknowledge with resignation that he is a boxer and consequently he has to face fear and danger for his friend and for the sake of the United States of America
Weeks later, the day of the bout comes and Rocky is ready to fight the Russian. After a few rounds in which Rocky receives more punches that what any other human could possibly resist, he no only manages to endure but he also begins to hit back and even hurt Drago. The Russian’s bounds are seen by his couch and others assistants as something never seen before. In the end, and is spite of the fact that Drago controlled the whole match, Rocky will be stronger in the last round and will make the ordeal come true.
Conclusion
Arthuriana elements can be frequently found in artistic modern products. In the case of Rocky IV, the antagonistic notions of good and evil are represented by the American and Russian government respectively. Rocky Balboa, the movie’s main character, represents the knight who chooses defend the system by overcoming and insurmountable opponent. In the figure of the Rocky, the attributes of honour, sacrifice and perfection are portrayed in order to increase the legend of the typical Arthurian hero.
[1] John 8:28
[2] Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Bibliography
Monmouth, Geoffrey: Geoffrey Monmouth’s Histories of the Kings of Britain
“The Holy Bible” Authorized King James Version. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1979
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur
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