The Horrors of Sir Gowther

Halloween-worthy Moments in the Breton Lai

by Katie Korenge

Fall comes with many perspectives of how to spend the season, with the highlight being Halloween at the center. Halloween is celebrated in a variety of ways, but one of our favorites is the recounting tales of supernatural happenings and what goes on in the dark. The characters in these tales go through some pretty horrific events, but none more horrifying than giving birth to a half-demon out for blood, as seen in the story of “Sir Gowther.” With that being said, if you’re looking for a quick read that fits the Halloween spirit, “Sir Gowther” is definitely the way to go.

This Breton lai from the Middle Ages tells the tale of a boy sired by a demon, who spends most of his life living heinously. Can you imagine being the mother of a child who ripped her own breast off and killed multiple nurses as an infant? There’s nothing more in the spirit of Halloween than knowing your son, sired by a demon, has done much more bad in his life than good. You want a horror movie moment, how about murdering and burning nuns simply because he can?

And sythyn he spard hom in hor kyrke

And brend hom up, thus con he werke;

    Then went his name full wyde. 

-Lines 190-193 of Sir Gowther

In modern English;

And he barred them in their convent,

And burned them up, thus did he work;

    Then his name went full wide.

In fact, not only is he doing all this wrong without hesitance, but he doesn’t even know what he’s doing is completely horrible! He doesn’t start to question his actions or change until a stranger calls him out and says he could not possibly be of Christian descent, because he is too cruel and that he must have been born of a fiend (or demon), causing him to have a bit of a mental breakdown that results in him turning his sword in his own mother in his search for the truth.

Though his actions were far from good, this story has a redemption arc that rivals many. Gowther prays for a way to be better after confronting and threatening his mother. His answer was that he must not speak and can only eat food from a dog’s mouth until he had received a divine sign. During his time enduring his punishment, he comes across the castle of another king, attracting the attention of his daughter, who ensured he was fed by sending the hounds over with rich food and wine for him. He suffered through endless teasing from the knights of that court, and in disguise even assisted the king dressed in three different sets of armor, riding in on three different horses that fit the color scheme of each armor set.

HIs divine sign came when the princess he had captured the attention of fell out of a tower and died, only to be miraculously revived by God with a message saying Gowther had suffered enough to have paid for his actions. He learned to be selfless. He learned to take punishment with humility, and to endure jabs and teases from peers. His atonement for his monstrous behavior allows him to escape his demonic lineage and choose to do good for his kingdom.

While this story has a relatively happy ending, unlike many horror movies, consider giving the tale of “Sir Gowther” a read. It has the potential to become your new halloween tradition! Curl up with this short story and a cup of your favorite fall weather drink, and dive into the horror of what having the child of a demon would be according to this author of the Middle Ages.