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Introduction
The Song of Roland is a famous medieval story with compelling characters such as Olivier and Roland. The book blends the medieval values of knights’ heroic exploits in battle with the medieval Christian faith. In the book, the ideal features of a knight are spotted majorly with having a skill like fighting on the battlefield and being a horse person. The essay compares and contrasts Olivier and Roland, explaining how they share some similarities and some interesting differences using examples from the text. Olivier, unlike Roland, a noble knight, has a more passive role.
Similarities between Olivier and Roland
The perfect-armed knight is intimately descended from Rome’s equities class.. Knights were expected to have honor, courage, honesty, respect, selflessness, and several other qualities of how a perfect knight was considered, like Olivier and Roland in The Song of Roland. In this book, Olivier and Roland are perfect knights as they are respectful and have strong devotion. Roland never fought for his glory but was often helping his comrade. For example, Roland showed selflessness when he fearlessly attempted to fend off the ambush and avert Charlemagne from returning and risking the lives of more troops. Roland asserts, “May God in heaven and his angles forbid that the fame of France should be diminished because of me! I would rather die than be brought to shame (Gaunt and Pratt, line 72).” It reveals they were ready to do anything at their disposal to save their King.
Both Roland and Olivier were brave warriors among the 12 peers of France. Ganelon says, “as long as Roland lives, for there is not such a vassal from here to the East… Exceedingly Valiant too is Oliver, his Companion” (Gaunt and Pratt, line 42). Roland and Olivier have a brotherly-like interaction because they were brought up together and trained together. It demonstrates that the two were the most feared warriors and brave in Charles’s troops.
Differences between Roland and Olivier
Olivier was wise, courageous, and at times cleverer than Roland was. Nonetheless, Roland is arrogant and impulsive as he makes resolutions based on feelings other than thoughts. It is revealed in the exchange of words between Roland and Olivier at the start of this story, when Charles, an emperor, is requesting his knights who shall go to battle for him: “my lord barons, who can we send to the Saracen who holds Saragossa?’ Roland replies: ‘I am prepared to go!’ ‘You certainly will not,’ said Count Oliver, ‘your temperament is most hostile and fierce, I am afraid you might pick a quarrel. If the king wishes, I am prepared to go” (Gaunt and Pratt, lines 252-258). Olivier at Roncesvals imagines the large number of the Saracens and urges Roland to blow his horn and call back to Charlemagne for help because Saracens may overwhelm the Franks. However, Roland is proud to do such a thing, which in turn angers Olivier, although the two terminate their quarrel before they die to remain the most tender and greatest of companions.
Further, Olivier is a compelling character, unlike Roland, a noble knight, who is the hero in the story; Olivier has a more submissive role to play. Despite fighting alongside Roland and bringing down some of the pagan knights, Olivier is not considered a significant figure as Roland is. Olivier often comes secondary to Roland due to the position of Roland and Olivier being just “the companion” (Gaunt and Pratt, line 42). In the story, Olivier is only mentioned after someone mentions Roland. Roland is Charles’ nephew; therefore, he has power and status as a birthright, unlike Olivier, who lacks this kind of status and power and is just a mere friend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of Olivier and Roland depicted that they both had similarities and differences between them. Both of them were brave warriors and fought selflessly for their kingdom. Further, the two had a brotherly relationship as they grew up and trained together. Roland and Olivier showed characteristics of perfect knights, such as respect, strong devotion, courage, honesty, and selflessness. However, Roland and Olivier displayed their differences in various aspects when they were interacting. For example, Olivier is wise and courageous and appears smarter than Roland appears.
Work Cited
Gaunt, Simon, and Karen Pratt. The Song of Roland and Other Poems of Charlemagne. Oxford UP, 2016.
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