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A Comparison Of Power In Le Morte D Arthur And Paradise Lost

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Two of the most important early British literary classics are Le Morte D'Arthur and Paradise Lost. These are both epic works that offer a glimpse into the society, politics, and worldview of their respective eras. I will be looking at the concept of power and its effects for both Le Morte d'Arthur & Paradise Lost in this analysis paper. I will specifically contend that both works show how a desire for power may bring about both an individual's and a society's destruction. Sir Thomas Malory penned Le Morte D'Arthur, a collection of tales concerning King Arthur and its knights, in the 15th century. The story depicts Arthur as the ideal monarch and is a manifestation of the heroic ethic that was prevalent at the period. The novel also illustrates …show more content…

The Green Knight challenges Gawain to combat in this tale. Gawain takes on the challenge but instead of slaying the Green Knight, he cuts off his head. The Green Knight suddenly raises his head and reminds Gawain of his commitment to see him once a year. Due to his inability to fulfill his word and subsequent need to face the repercussions of his actions, Gawain's determination to uphold his honor and prove himself ultimately proves to be his demise. The final example of Le Morte D'Arthur, is in The tale of Camelot's demise serves as another illustration of the negative effects of dominance. Lancelot and Guinevere belong to the knights of the Round Table who get caught up in a love affair that ultimately results in the ruin of the kingdom. The knights' and the realm they promised to defend ultimately fall victim to the lust for power and the need for self-gratification. Paradise Lost is an epic work written by John Milton in the 17th century. The poem tells the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve's fall from grace. Using the persona of Satan, who pursues power and ends up falling from grace, the poem examines the issue of power and its …show more content…

Satan tempts Eve to eat from the knowledge tree, and as a result of her disobedience, she falls from grace. Eve succumbed to the knowledge and power temptations, illustrating the perils of unrestrained ambition and the value of humble and self-control. Lastly, the themes of the fall from grace are explored in both Le Morte D'Arthur and Paradise Lost. The tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the destruction of Camelot in Le Morte d'Arthur illustrate the character's fall from grace. The Round Table knights get caught up in a love triangle, which ultimately results in the loss of the realm they vowed to defend. Furthermore, in Paradise Lost, this same fall from grace can be seen via the personalities of Satan and Adam. Satan eventually falls from grace as a result of his hostility against God and thirst for power. Adam disobeys God's instruction not to eat from the tree of knowledge because of his thirst for knowledge and power, and his fall from grace is a representation of what happens when power is

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