the heroes of Roncesvalles
Why Mary Shelley felt it important
to alter the legendary materials loved
by Clerval is unknown. It may simply be dictated by a change in the
conditions of her culture. Although Roland, the hero of Roncesvalles,
is identical with the title character of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso
(one of the books specified in 1818), in this rendering Clerval's interest
in him is more "romantic," less bookish. His other literary passions are
of a similar generic kind, rather than for specific books. On the other
hand, that the Battle of Roncesvalles was fought against Saracen attackers,
who are also the "infidels" who held the "holy sepulchre" of Jerusalem against
the crusaders in Victor's third example of their texts of romance, indicates
an early manifestation of the interest in eastern, or Mohammedan, culture
Clerval will later develop.
