Fairness In Howard Pyle's Men Of Iron

In Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, the theme of fairness is evident throughout the work. The character Myles is too focused on fairness throughout his lifetime. His focus on fairness could have been his downfall many times in the span of his life. First, as Myles was sent to Devlen Castle and he began to learn that not everything in life is fair. When Myles first arrives at Devlen he quickly learns that one of his jobs as a squire is to serve the bachelors. He finds this unfair and complains about it, telling his friend Gascoyne "I tell thee I will never serve them. Prithee, what shame can be fouler than to do such menial service, saving for one's rightful Lord?” (Pyle). Myles ends up helping Gascoyne carry buckets of water up for the bachelors
Myles was asked, by King Henry V, to joust against Sieur de la Montaigne, one of the best jousters in France. The young knight becomes nervous at the thought as he has never jousted before and thinks he would be foolish to “venture . . . against one of such prowess and skill,” (Pyle). However, Myles accepts this honor given to him by King Henry V and bravely shows up to joust the experienced knight. Myles and Sieur de la Montaigne are evenly matched the first two rounds of the joust. After the second round Sieur de la Montaigne stopped to warn Myles that he was planning on unhorsing him. Myles thought it would only be fair to warn Sieur de la Montaigne of his breast-piece and the over-girth. The experienced knight laughed and said that those two things had helped him many times throughout his jousting carrier. Sieur de la Montaigne arrogance turns into his downfall as Myles is able to unhorse him. Understandably, Sieur de la Montaigne was a very angry man, and claimed that his unhorsing did not count as he was over-girthed. Myles then explained that he had warned the experienced knight; so the judges declared him the winner. However, this is not the only battle Myles has against a much more experienced man. Myles challenges the Earl of Alban, a man who dishonored his family, to trial by battle. The Earl accepted and was able to choose the weapons that would be used. The Earl, unfairly chooses a weapon that knights are no longer trained to use. When the battle between Myles and the Earl began, the young knight was able to corner the Earl a few times. However, Myles decided he would be merciful and allow him time to recover instead of ending it immediately. In the end Myles killed the Earl as he had no other choice if he wished to win his family’s honor