Representations of the feminine in Thomas Malory's “Le Morte D'Arthur”: The role of anonymous women in the chivalric society

Abstract

Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur contains a number of minor female characters that are nameless, making them easy to ignore. The purpose of this thesis is to begin to recognize the contributions of these characters. They have been separated into two groups, good and evil, based on the individual character's intentions. This dichotomy has been further divided into subcategories to describe and analyze the roles these women play. This allows a greater appreciation of the importance these women have and how they impact the story.