It is in this cultural context that we must examine Bewmaynes' quest for honor. The colors of the three major foes Bewmaynes encounters in his quest for honor represent three important areas of testing for the chivalric knight. The purification of Bewmaynes is similar to the process in which gold and other precious metals are purified. In each fiery test, the undesired "dross" of his character will be burned away. .
After embarking on his quest with the discontent damsel who has sought the assistance of Arthur's court, Bewmeynes has several adventures where he valiantly defeats several rouges and other unscrupulous characters. Eventually he encounters the first of three highly symbolic colored knights with which he must do battle. Bewmaynes' first encounter is with the Black Knight, whom the discontent damsel beseeches for assistance. Oddly, the damsel desires to be delivered from her escort Bewmaynes. She only regards Bewmaynes with contempt and regularly refers to him as a despicable "kitchen knave." The black colors of the first knight that Bewmeynes encounters likely represents the testing of Bewmaynes' social rebirth into knighthood. Malory's choice of symbols is likely based on the Egyptian concept of the color black. To the Egyptians, black was regarded as the color of rebirth and resurrection. ( Fontana, 67) The knighthood during the middle ages was indeed a type of spiritual rebirth, whereby the individual in many ways began a new life. Like the Christian conception of spiritual rebirth, induction into knighthood required the knight to redefine his existence in the world. The chivalric knight, like the new born medieval Christian, was also subject to strict codes of behavior which clearly stated consequences of non-compliance. Therefore, Bewmaynes confrontation with the black knight represents a testing of his social rebirth. Bewmeynes has made a commitment to his Lord King Arthur to honor the crown in his quest. Though the black knight attempts to thwart his objective, Bewmeynes is determined to honor King Arthur and obey the chivalric code. His victory over the Black Knight is an important affirmation of his social rebirth into knighthood.
