Sunday, April 3, 2016

Arthur: Grown up

I was much impressed with Arthur in this story. During the beginning of the story Arthur and Lancelot are talking more socially than in the other stories that have been read by us, my fellow peers. In this story the attitude towards each other is a more modern than those of the other stories; such as nick names for Gwen and Lancelot. Other things are more old fashioned like having a wife before having a “home.” I feel sorry for Lancelot simply because he wants to be with the one that he loves and how he can’t get his home because the woman he would make his wife has already made a home with his king and best friend.
However the other stories were those of when Arthur and Camelot were young and still fighting for the peace of the kingdom. Arthur’s point of view has changed since Arthur has aged; Arthur believes in being just and delivering Justice towards those who deserve it, even to his own wife when the affair of Lancelot and Gwen are finally out in the light. With this Camelot that has been aged, the king and those knights that are seen as people who must not sleep, eat, or drink; yet it is not so different than those of modern day when we idealize someone or when we look back on Arthur and his tale. We see him as a man who is the greatest King, the king that is allowed to be able to comeback from the dead after his life is over, considering that he may be a myth or just a simple man from a line of kings.
Arthur has matured as a king and a man significantly since Merlin has left; he cares more about the kingdom and worries that the he may have built his kingdom on the one thing he was fighting to dissolve: Might. Might and Right have been taken over by Justice and Justice mean as much to him as Might and Right when he was first starting out as king.

The affair with Lancelot and Gwen has been going on for 21 years, the whole time Arthur has known about it but did not say anything because he knew that she was happy and did not want to take that away because he loves her. I admire Gwen’s ability to keep her head when she is at the risk of being burned at the stake because of the affair, she is no longer wrapped up in her feelings and care deeply about Arthur and the people of Camelot and how many of them might die if she and Lancelot ran off together. She is able to asses the situation and decide a course of action.

 Until the next time I see you in the vibrant city of Camelot
Igrena

3 comments:

  1. Lady Igerna,

    Arthur has indeed matured to the level of discerning right and justice on every level. Rather than letting himself become the King of the Moat, Arthur doesn't even let his own wife and best friend evade justice. I respect that, but I also cheered to see Lancelot rescue Gwen from her impending demise.

    Yours obedient,

    Sir Gawain, the Knight of the Surcoat

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  2. Ahh! I miss the old days of quests and showing off. I mean that is in my wheelhouse. I suppose I see your point. It is nice to hear a fresher version of the same old stories. But where is the fun in analyzing my feelings. I would rather fight.

    Sir Kay

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  3. Lady Igerna,
    You believe that Gwen was right to avoid running away with Lancelot, but part of your reasoning for this is that Gwen wish to preserve the lives of Camelot's citizens. If they had run away, I am not convinced this would have resulted in any more loss of life. Gwen knew that Lancelot would try to rescue her and that he would cut down any of Camelot's guards that stood in his way. These are Camelot's citizens and their deaths are certain. Best case- Lancelot kills the guard and escapes, Arthur relents and lets them go. Things primarily get more complicated because of the death of the brothers. So by Gwen staying, the guards' lives were already forfeit even in the best case. Now consider what would have happened if she had run. She most likely would have run to France with Lancelot to one of his castles. Arthur could not have touched them without declaring war on France, which gives him more than enough reason to let them live out their days in peace. It is unlikely any of Camelot's citizens would have died. This seems to indicate that Gwen was wrong to stay.

    Ever the craftiest,
    Meleagant

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