Oh what a difference a storyteller can make! Much of the the first part we read this week, "Merlin," is a retelling of the story of Arthur's beginnings. Thus far, we have been told this story twice already, but the flavor of the story has changed in this rendition. Yes, the knights still go on grand quests to prove how honorable they are (and sometimes tests prove how DISHONORABLE they are) and ladies are charming and pure. However, much of the scandal that made the older stories come alive reduced here.
Remember, dear Lords and Ladies of the Round Table, how King Uther tricked Igraine and warred with her husband because Uther found the lady pretty? This time, when that story is told to us, we are given an intriguing bit of extra information. Apparently, Uther and Igraine's husband, the Duke of Tintagil had been enemies. It feels like this tidbit was added to excuse King Uther's obsession with Igraine, which causes war and death. The argument seems to be that, in addition to bringing about the conception of King Arthur, the Duke of Tintagil may have deserved what he got... Plus, he did leave court without permission...
Could this be a knew moral turn for our brave heros and lovely ladies? If it is, the fans of debauchery have no cause to fear yet. Camelot, the greatest kingdom on Earth, still brims with scandal. Ladies still cheat on their spouses and are found out (recall the lady whose husband left her in a forest), and the knights are little better. Even the mighty King Arthur has two illegitimate children thus far in the tale, one of whom was conceived by his AUNT.
Plus, we are finally told the whole story of the sword in the stone, so perhaps that was worth the ladies suffering through the battles and the jousts. The story of the sword and the stone story brings back the feelings of honor and destiny we are all drawn to. This is one of those moments that brings a sense of wonderment to the story of King Arthur. I think this is why we love King Arthur and his knights so much. Despite the fact that they have human weaknesses, like cheating on their spouses or taking magical green girdles for protection against magical green knights, the universe often seems to conspire to bring about their happy endings. And who does not like a happy ending? It was indeed clever of Sir Thomas Malory to place his characters in a universe that seems to believe they are the "good," regardless of what they do. Ladies, knights, and even peasants, can see ourselves in the characters.
Until the Table meets again,
Lady Bertilak
Remember, dear Lords and Ladies of the Round Table, how King Uther tricked Igraine and warred with her husband because Uther found the lady pretty? This time, when that story is told to us, we are given an intriguing bit of extra information. Apparently, Uther and Igraine's husband, the Duke of Tintagil had been enemies. It feels like this tidbit was added to excuse King Uther's obsession with Igraine, which causes war and death. The argument seems to be that, in addition to bringing about the conception of King Arthur, the Duke of Tintagil may have deserved what he got... Plus, he did leave court without permission...
Could this be a knew moral turn for our brave heros and lovely ladies? If it is, the fans of debauchery have no cause to fear yet. Camelot, the greatest kingdom on Earth, still brims with scandal. Ladies still cheat on their spouses and are found out (recall the lady whose husband left her in a forest), and the knights are little better. Even the mighty King Arthur has two illegitimate children thus far in the tale, one of whom was conceived by his AUNT.
Until the Table meets again,
Lady Bertilak
The conception of Arthur's illegitimate children is especially intriguing to me as well. After all, Arthur was an illegitimate child himself, right? He went on to be this great and powerful king who no one would suspect as being a bastard. I thought maybe he was trying to cover up his origins or, if he was unaware of them, at least symbolizing a sort of possible resilience one may have in contrast to the hand he or she was dealt - but now, he has his own illegitimate children, AND he goes around killing babies! Perhaps the world was just tired of Arthur's perfection.
ReplyDelete-Lady of the Lake