Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
Analyzing King Arthur
The myth of king arthur essays
The myth of king arthur essays
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Analyzing King Arthur
The myth of king arthur essays
The myth of king arthur essays
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Analyzing King Arthur
However, what some people don’t really realize is that though calling a certain time Camelot sounds pleasant and fairy tale like, it really wasn’t as wonderful in the time of Arthur as it seems. Though King Arthur was a strong ruler with a beautiful castle, a large kingdom, and a panel of loyal knights, not everything was as fantastic as we would like to think. Mrs. Kennedy meant the term Camelot as a positive, assuring phrase, but as the Arthurian age and Camelot had many issues, so did the Kennedy presidency. First of all, though Arthur’s knights were mostly loyal, two of his most trusted knights committed the highest acts of disloyalty. Sir Lancelot, though one of the most noble and famous knights there was fell in love with Arthur’s wife, Guinevere.
Chivalry versus Morality: Why Lancelot’s Compromised Morality Disproves His Heroic Status According to chivalry, the ideal twelfth century knight should have upheld the values of Chretien de Troye’s The Knight of the Cart – honor, fidelity, and the drive to protect and serve the helpless. For example, “if a knight encountered a damsel or girl alone – be she lady or maidserant – he would as soon cut his throat as treat her dishonorably, if he prized his good name [emphasis mine]” (223). The fault lies in that statement, rephrased and added as a qualifier to the courtly standards mentioned throughout the story: the purpose of chivalry, above all, was to ensure that the knight maintained a reputation that was above reproach.
In a more accurate depiction of Arthurian lore, Lancelot's individualist qualities and nomadic background would have been down played and his purely chivalric nature would have played up. There is one film, however, that does look to portray chivalry is a more historical light than First Knight and King
Arthur notices Lancelot at the feast, and he called him over. Arthur discusses his plan to Lancelot. White writes, “You want to put an end to the Strong Arm, by having a band of knights who believe in justice rather than strength. Yes, I like to be one of those very much” (316). Arthur recruits younger knights because they can be taught Arthur’s new way and forget the old ways.
In the other reading, Lancelot by Chretien de Troys is an Arthurian poem about the story of Lancelot expressing knightly rightness to free the Queen from Melegant. They both do battle which ends with Lancelot almost defending Melegant but he calls for a rematch in king Arthurs court. This story also shows the love Lancelot has for the Queen. These tales were in collaboration between women like Marie de France. The Arthurian tales contain interests and concerns of women this includes, “threats to women’s independence, enforced or unhappy marriages, disputed inheritance, fashion, and romance” (pg.
Lancelot was so gracious that even despite Queen Guenievre acting ungrateful for his efforts at first, he does not object to her words. Instead, like a “perfect lover”(The Knight of the Cart, p. 256) he apologizes and takes his leave, careful to not upset her further. This further demonstrates his loyalty to his
Lancelot is considered by everyone in Camelot to be the leader of the Round Table. To back up the claims that Malory makes about Lancelot he gives many examples of his heroic acts and achievements. For example Malory describes tournaments that would be held where knights would battle to the death. Describing Lancelot in theses events Malory says “... Sir Launcelot du Lake, for in all tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, both for life and death, he passed all other knights” ( Malory 175).
gracious Lord Jesus Christ, let not my going to help this priest, who stands in need of aid, be cause to me of hurt or of damnation.” Here, Lancelot either took a leap of faithfully conscious that he was disobeying the order he had received or he truly wanted to help the man. Perhaps it was a tiny bit of both, but the emotions and amazement he had definitely influenced his decision. If the case had been that he had died, he would have been fully responsible for it, once again going back to what Galahad and the hermit told him. In other words, this event attributed to Lancelot’s free will.
In Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, the major theme around this famous story written by Chretien de Troyes, is romance. Of a knight who fell in love with Queen Guinevere, of whom is married to King Arthur, and who Lancelot was sworn to protect, and to always tell the truth; even if this meant costing their lives. Thus, creating a dilemma for a normal person, but Lancelot would have no trouble doing everything it takes even risking his life multiple times to be with who he loves. Lancelot would prove his love to Queen Guinevere by doing everything that she would ask of him, showing that only she could control him; in which he could be an unstoppable force not to be reckoned with.
Because of Arthur’s denial of Guinevere's affair with Lancelot, Mordred seizes his opportunity to accuse Guinevere, which causes Arthur to stage her “execution” and her rescue. Because of this, Gaheris and Gareth are placed in danger, and killed by Lancelot in his rampage, as well as many other soldiers who were only doing their duty. “” (White #) However, this has wider repercussions, and Mordred and Agravaine use Lancelot’s crime of “treason” to persuade some of the knights of the Round Table to follow his ideas. This culminates in a battle between his followers and Arthur’s, and ultimately ends in Arthur’s death, marking the end of his kingdom. “” (White #) All of Mordred’s actions would never have occurred if not for Guinevere’s affair. The chain of events causing Camelot’s collapse would never have happened if Guinevere had not loved both Arthur and
Lancelot is a very loyal knight who follows all the codes of chivalry and because of this he earns a position in the round table. He exhibits courage in word and deed, protect the innocent/ defend the weak and innocent, fights with honor, fights for the ideal of king, country, and chivalry and much more. Lancelot can basically become a king because of his bravery and attentiveness to other people, he’s a selfless man. Perfect doesn’t exist, not even for Sir Lancelot.
During Lancelot’s quest he met various people and did things other knights would not do when given the chance. Which showed how Lancelot was already showing signs from the very beginning of the maturing as a person.
Rather, seeing Sir Lancelot, entices her to look outside where she is to witness reality, what is truly Camelot. Within this castle she is composing art of the idealistic world that displays in the magic mirror, symbolizing the attic, till she is to come outside lying in the boat as an art piece of her own, symbolizing the cellar of reality. Furthermore, Sir Lancelot comprises much beauty through generic necessities. “The helmet and the helmet-feather, burn’d like one burning flame together” (Tennyson 93-94) exemplifies a helmet, a necessity of a knight’s safety ornamented with a feather to create beauty. On Sir Lancelot’s shield lays a picture of a knight kneeling to a lady.
Sir Lancelot was loyal to King Arthur, which shows part of the Chivalry code. Chivalry is show agains when Sir Lancelot and King Arthur battle themselves. This shows Chivalry on both sides of King Arthur and Sir Lancelot. They battle to the death. “Yet Some men say in many parts of England that King Arthur is not dead, but carried by the will of the Lord Jesus to another place”(195).
Medieval times are known for their brave Knights , fair maidens and mythical creatures. Thier Knights are the bravest of the brave,the strongest of the strong , they show the most chivalry , their all honest men. Monty Python is a prime example of that there can be a thin line between reality and fantasy like with King Arthur and his coconuts. If you love knights feelings your feelings might be a little hurt about it. the satire and mockery in this movie is tremendous.