The Custom of the Castle: From Malory to Macbeth

The Custom of the Castle: From Malory to Macbeth explores the enduring narrative motif of the "custom of the castle," from its early conception by Chrétien de Troyes in twelfth-century romances to its reimagining in Renaissance literature. This study goes beyond previous interpretations that view the motif merely as heroic tests or courtly conventions, instead situating it within shifting legal and cultural contexts in France, Italy, and England. By examining key works by Sir Thomas Malory,...