Lancelot just
cannot keep himself out of tournaments. At every tournament, Lancelot goes
incognito and proves his strength yet again. This time others in the melee at
least had suspicions as to the identity of the knight they were fighting. I was
once defeated by Lancelot, so I know better than anyone the uncanny power of
his blows. Whenever there is a knight who clearly surpasses all others, the
only possible person it could be is Lancelot. Lancelot himself must have
finally noticed the repetitiveness of his antics, so he further disguised
himself by wearing the token from the Maiden of Astolat. This same guy was
taken in by a clearly malicious dwarf…
Since when does Lancelot have any brains? Lancelot is known for being
valiant, but not typically coming up with any ideas. He knows his way around a
sword, but typically lacks my cunning. To betray Guinevere by wearing a token
just to increase his disguise seems very out of character for the same man who
quested so irrationally for Guinevere in Knight
of the Cart. Of course we see his attempt at being clever come back to
haunt him, but it was a worthy attempt nonetheless.
Guinevere
has a tantrum at the thought of Lancelot wearing another someone else’s token.
She knew Lancelot was gravely injured in the tournament and was close to death,
but she just ranted about him wearing the token. Here again we see the
disproportionality of her love and Lancelot’s love. Lancelot would rather
himself be dead than displease Guinevere, yet Guinevere is perfectly happy to
see Lancelot run through with a spear because he wore poorly-chosen disguise. I
can only say that I am happy to have been rid of her insanity and that I am
extremely glad she is not my queen.
Unfortunately,
Lancelot does not see a perfect opportunity when it is dangling right in front
of him. Here is his chance to marry a decent girl who loves him properly (even
a bit excessively) and to rid himself of Guinevere’s lunacy forever. But no…
The fool stays loyal to the mad queen and inadvertently causes the death of Elaine
by not returning her love. Lancelot remains ever bound by his love and blinded
by his own stupidity. As I said, better Guinevere be his problem than mine.
-Meleagant
