Character Of King Arthur

Arthur’s knights were his most trusted friends and family, but ironically, he is betrayed by the best of them. The most reputed of Arthur’s knights are Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram. Sir Lancelot was the leader of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur’s most trusted friend, but he was involved in an illicit love affair. This affair was with Arthur’s

Although it is hinted, one could say that King Arthur knew of the relationship between Lancelot and Guinevere but chose to look the other way in fear of losing Sir Lancelot. Sir Lancelot is an example of what a perfect knight would be in the True Knighthood. His honor to King Arthur is what King Arthur holds precious to himself. These three men want to stay loyal to one another and fight against what others are trying to say.

Sir Lancelot is the dominant figure in Le Morte D'Arthur who presents us with the theme of sin and redemption. Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred expose the courtly romance or otherwise adulterous affair between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guenever. This sets in motion the conflicts and other events leading up to the death of Sir Lancelot and many other noteworthy characters. Sir Lancelot betrays both King Arthur and Queen Guenever. If he is truly a noble character as Sir Gawaine, Sir Gareth, and Sir Gaheris describe, would he have involved himself in such a treacherous act? Sir Agravaine says, “I marvel that we all be not ashamed both to see and to know how Sir Launcelot lieth daily and nightly by the queen, and all we know it so; and it is shamefully suffered of us all, that we all should suffer so noble a king as King Arthur is so to be shamed” (Location 12810). Sir Lancelot’s betrayal raises opposition between the knights and breaks up that which should remain united. His betrayal reaches beyond the king and queen. Thus, it is not a surprise that the consequences of his sin affect the lives of so many.

A king was expected to sit on his throne, give demands to his people and rule his kingdom. It is unheard of for a medieval King to charge around on his horse and organize knights or to look for the Holy Grail. According to the information that has been given; King Arthur has fought in twelve battles. However, based on the facts, these battles took place in so many different times and places that it would have been impossible for one man to participate in all of them. The actions of King Arthur do not correspond with the typical actions of a king because after the death of his mother, Merlin (the powerful wizard) took him away. Merlin gave young Arthur away to Sir Ector, who raised young Arthur as his son. However, Sir Ector did not know that young Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon (King of Britain). Eleven years later, the young Arthur ends up pulling the sword out of the stone and becomes the king of Britain. For a kid to pull the sword out of the stone subsequently and being crowned after that event is very extraordinary.

Ideally, a king has an old look, a great amount of power, and naturally rules his domain with an iron fist in literature. In the two works, Le Morte d'Arthur and First Knight see two different versions of how king Arthur is portrayed. Yet the honor and respect that a king should have remains undisturbed, much like how both are products of their time. First Knight is told as a modern retelling of the legend and Le Morte d'Arthur is a minorly altered, much older work. While the depictions of king Arthur are seen as the paramount backbone for arthurian times, these two works have also proven to exhibit differences and similarities, illustrate Arthur’s figure in character, and serve as preservation of the time period.

Towards the end of the novel we see what Arthur’s thoughts are about betrayal. “The law was such in tho dayes that whatsomever they were, of what astate or degré, if they were founden gylty of treson there should be none other remedy but deth (Malory 654) King Arthur is stating that committing is adultery is seen as treason and the answer for that should be death. According to Breier, “Malory was facing a moral dilemma with respect to the love affair between Lancelot and Gwenyvere: on the one hand, he claimed Lancelot to be the most virtuous knight in the Arthurian realm, and on the other he relates – for the first time in

In The Knight of the Cart, Lancelot sets out to rescue Queen Guinevere, who he has fallen in love with and has been captured by King Arthur’s enemy, Meleagant. He is first mentioned after he is found by Gawain, another Knight of the Round Table. Lancelot convinces Gawain to lend him one of his horses so that

Arthur was believed to be as a hero who helped fight off the invading Anglo-Saxons. During this time, The Britons were victims to many invasions, hunger, and oppression. There was a huge gap between rich and poor and educated people as well. There was a lot of uncertainty and no security in this society. The people waited for a savior from the long and continuous invasions from the Saxons, Danes, and Vikings. This is where the story of King Arthur is born, this is where the legend begins and spreads through Europe. Arthur’s warrior like skills and great leadership carry a legacy that still lives today. Arthur’s story is hard to figure out because many historians have created their own version of Arthur’s life. Due to the lack of remaining evidence for his existence, historians often have to use their own judgment and observation to tell his

Perhaps Arthur’s biggest error in in judgement had been when he chose to ignore his suspicions of the affair, for “Sir Lancelot had done so much for him and for the Queen so many times that…[he] loved him passingly well” (Malory 441). This showed the great amount of loyalty that was shared between the king and his best knight. Had Arthur acknowledged the affair before Agravain and Mordred informed him, he could have put a stop to it, or found a better solution, and not jumped into the war that would pave the path to Arthur’s untimely demise. This war is foreshadowed when Gawain warns Agravain, “for and there arise

"Drawing from many sources, Malory develops Lancelot's qualities of self-control, rectitude, and humaneness...the third tale (Lancelot du Lake) concentrates on Lancelot's chivalry inspired by a yet unconsummated passion. Undertaking his quest because of Gwenyver, he becomes the best knight in the world" (Walters xxix). One need not look far into the sixth book to find examples of Lancelot's character. In the beginning of the tale, we are introduced to Sir Lancelot very abruptly with "Of all his knights one was supreme, both in prowess at arms and in nobility of bearing, and this was Sir Lancelot, who was also the favorite of Queen Gwynevere, to whom he had sworn oaths of fidelity" (Malory 118). It is here we are introduced to Lancelot's two primary character traits: that of his being a great knight and that of being faithful to Guinevere. He is not yet the best knight, or the perfect lover, as he has not yet been tested. Lancelot soon feels bored with his life at court, and so searches out adventure. It is during these adventures that

Although King Arthur is one of the most well-known figures in the world, his true identity remains a mystery. Attempts to identify the historical Arthur have been unsuccessful, since he is largely a product of fiction. Most historians, though, agree that the real Arthur was probably a battle leader of the Britons against the Anglo-Saxons in the sixthth century. In literature, King Arthur's character is unique and ever changing, taking on a different face in every work. There is never a clearly definitive picture that identifies Arthur's character. It is therefore necessary to look at a few different sources to get better insight into the character of Arthur, the once and future king.

The adulterous affair between King Arthur’s most trusted knight Lancelot, and his wife, Guinevere, is symbolic to the coming of the mischievous serpent in God’s garden as a result to an end of a perfect world. According to the influential work of Sir Thomas Malory at the end of the 15th century, there became one of the major causes of the downfall of Arthur’s Round Table. Through various parts of literature, Lancelot’s romantic character becomes known. In The Knight of the Cart (ca. 1175), by Chrûtien de Troyes Sir Lanceolt rescues Guinevere from the evil knight, Meleagent, and ultimately spends the night with the queen in her chamber. He later listens and obeys every instruction she asks Lancelot to do, such as to do his worst in the Tournament. Another major romance of which Lancelot is the protagonist is the extensive early 13th-century Prose Lancelot, a part of the Vulgate Cycle of Arthurian romances. Here, he is raised by the Lady of the Lake, and by 18 sent to Arthur’s court after realizing his royal percentage. He is given a sword by Guinevere, who knights him in a ceremony of divided loyalties. He goes to act of numerous adventures for the king to earn his reputation, but his adultery with the queen disables his legitimacy to succeed in the quest for the Holy Grail. In the last romance of the cycle, Lancelot and the

2. Lancelot: Sir Lancelot, a famous knight, was the first knight of the Round Table. He had a torrid love for Arthur’s queen, Guinevere. He was the father of Sir Galahad. When he was in Camelot he fought a dragon and stayed with Elaine.

Many know of the epic hero Arthur, but don’t know what it is that makes him so. Though there isn’t one solid story, like Beowulf, there are multiple stories that agree on the same things, such as Arthur’s allegiance to the Knights of the Round table, his companion Merlin, his relationships with his fellow knights, family, and close friends, and the legendary sword Excalibur. When all aforementioned qualities are explained and put together, it can truthfully define Arthur as an epic hero.

   King Arthur lets his past get the best of his judgement. King Arthur let Launcelot take Guinevere during her trial and did nothing to stop it, he even wanted Lancelot to take her away so that she wouldn’t