Within the first lais of The Song of Roland a religious distinction is made between King Marsile and King Charles. King Marsile “does not love god,” which almost immediately makes King Marsile and his followers “others.” As the text continues, the pagan men are described on many occasions in dark terms, ie. “blacker than ink (1933)”. This imagery seems to dehumanize the “other” and move him toward the monstrous, thus underscoring King Charles and Christianity as relatively positive.
Interestingly, there appears to be another significant “other” portrayed in this text. It seems that Oliver is an “other” when contrasted with Roland; he is a necessary counterpart. When Oliver urges Roland to blow his horn, Oliver provides a challenge that highlights Roland’s courage and nobility. Shortly after, the poet attributes their disagreement to their differing inclinations “Roland is brave and Oliver is wise; both are marvelous vassals. (1093-1094)” Oliver, unlike King Marsile and his men, is described in honorable terms and therefore can be viewed as a sort of civilized “other.”
When taking both types of “others” into consideration neither prevail on their own. Oliver is killed during battle, and Charlemagne wins the battle. In this case, neither variation of “other” can adequately relay morals or values alone. The “others” appear to be used as a device to emphasize the value of a counterpart.
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