Essay about Dame Ragnell Searching for the Truth

Dame Ragnell: Searching for the Truth Throughout the Arthurian legends, the role of the mysterious hag is one that continually appears. The hag is often associated with great magical power and revelations - both physical and psychological. In The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell, Dame Ragnell is the magical hag that aids Arthur in his quest for the answer to the Holy Female Question. It is ultimately because of the noble, chivalrous and courtly Sir Gawain, that the true identity of the hag can be revealed. While Dame Ragnell is not an evil character, the hag is ultimately a character of question. One must wonder how trustworthy the hag truly is when magic is involved. From other Arthurian legends, such as Sir Gawain and†¦show more content†¦As Arthur travels through the forest to face Sir Gromer Somer Joure with his book of answers, he knows his fate is sealed. Death is at his head unless he can find an answer that will save his life. Like the answer to his prayers, the hag sits waiting for him: She was as ungodly a creature/As evere man sawe witheoute mesure. (page 331, lines 228-229) To Arthur she is such a disgusting sight to see that when she tells him her price for the answer is her marriage to Gawain, he feels too much pity for Gawain to agree instantly. However, like her historical image, the hag gets what she wants when Gawain observes the comitatus and agrees to do whatever it takes to protect Arthur from Sir Gromer. Once Arthur tells Dame Ragnell that Gawain has agreed to marry her in return for the answer to the fateful question, Dame Ragnell provides the answer to her brothers question: We desiren of men above alle manner thing/To have the sovereinty, without lesing,/Of alle, bothe highe and lowe. (page 336, lines 422-424) At this point in the story one must wonder about Dame Ragnell. How does she know Arthur has been the victim of her brother? Could Sir Gromer have worked with his sister in order to break the spell placed on her by her stepmother? Do they have enough faith in the reputation of Sir Gawain to know that he will never allow any harm to come to