The Song of Roland and the Death of Reciprocity

In one of the most familiar scenes of medieval literature, Roland is nominated by his enemy Ganelon to be head of charlemagne's rearguard as the French army returns victoriously from spain through the pass of Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees in The Song of Roland. This nomination leads to an escalating confrontation which sets up Roland's eventual death and the destruction of the rearguard. Most importantly for us, the scene enacts a dynamic of reciprocity and its refusal which is crucial to understanding the nature of the epic hero. But the scene is merely the culmination of a growing conflict between Roland and Ganelon which centers on issues of giving and taking.

The epic, which dates from perhaps the end of the eleventh century, opens in Spain, where Charlemagne has defeated all the Saracens except for those of Sara-gossa. The desperate Saracens promise to offer Charlemagne gifts and hostages in exchange for his return to Spain, at which point they will follow him there and convert to christianity. The baron Ganelon urges that the offer be accepted in order to avoid further war, while charlemagne's nephew Roland mocks him for this espousal of peace over war. Ganelon's advice is taken, however. Then, when an ambassador must be selected to go to the Saracens (the last ones having been treacherously murdered by them), Roland suggests Ganelon, and then mocks him once again, this time for his hesitation to undertake the dangerous mission.