Another battle between good and evil that is easy to recognize.
The Song of Roland is a medieval French poem that narrates the age old tale of the battle between good and evil. The two sides of the war are marked clearly for the reader; the Christians led by the great king Charlemagne who represent the good will of God and his battle against the evil Muslim Saracens led by Marsillion.
It is true in stories of this nature that the good side will always prevail, this is the inevitable result of an all-powerful God who takes the side of his ‘just and righteous’ followers. It is the presentation of the evil side of the war that is a problem for the medieval narrator. It is his duty to make the Muslims seem unquestionably evil, yet still a worthy enemy for the Christians. It is even further presented when Marsillion is given a chance to convert “..may the Lord God save you…. You are to take the holy Christian faith…[or] be taken by force..” of how good and just the Christians are(33.429-435). It is described again and again throughout the Song of Roland that the Muslims, despite their blasphemously evil beliefs were good warriors and had God only been on their side what might have changed. It is this prevent theme of good versus evil that makes the Song of Roland so relevant throughout history.
It is true in stories of this nature that the good side will always prevail, this is the inevitable result of an all-powerful God who takes the side of his ‘just and righteous’ followers. It is the presentation of the evil side of the war that is a problem for the medieval narrator. It is his duty to make the Muslims seem unquestionably evil, yet still a worthy enemy for the Christians. It is even further presented when Marsillion is given a chance to convert “..may the Lord God save you…. You are to take the holy Christian faith…[or] be taken by force..” of how good and just the Christians are(33.429-435). It is described again and again throughout the Song of Roland that the Muslims, despite their blasphemously evil beliefs were good warriors and had God only been on their side what might have changed. It is this prevent theme of good versus evil that makes the Song of Roland so relevant throughout history.